Public excluded business

A local authority has to provide a good reason if they wish to exclude the public, including media, from council or committee meetings.  Public excluded agenda and minutes are not available to the public. 

Reasons for 'public excluded' include:

• disclosing trade secrets
• prejudicing the maintenance of the law (including the right to a fair trial)
• protecting the privacy of any person,
• commercial confidentiality or legal privilege. 

Resolutions to exclude the public are made under Section 48 of the Local Government Official Information & Meetings Act 1987.

Appendix A of Model Standing Orders (NZS9202:2003) lists all grounds to exclude the public in terms of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987.