Christchurch City Council faces possible legal action over its refusal to reveal the cost of an interactive touch wall at the city's new library.
The Chief Ombudsman has asked the Attorney-General to consider enforcement proceedings, and says the original complainant, the Taxpayer's Union, has the right to take the case to the High Court.
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"I am very disappointed that the Christchurch City Council has failed to respond to a recommendation within the timeframe required under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act," Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier says in a statement.
"My role as a watchdog for Parliament is to make sure official information law is not undermined by agencies ignoring their public duty when it arises.
"I take any breach of public duty extremely seriously. I do not have enforcement powers myself so I am referring the case to the Solicitor-General."
The 7m-wide wall provides people with a digital representation of Christchurch and its history.
It is thought to be New Zealand's biggest digital wall which will be unveiled when the $92 million dollar library opens.
Taxpayer's Union executive director Jordan Williams says legal action could be avoided if the council simply comes clean.
"Let ratepayers judge for themselves whether this was a good spend or not.
"Just what is the council hiding and why are they going to these extraordinary lengths to keep this information quiet or delay its release."
He says for the Ombudsman to make this decision is "something extraordinary".
"Well the great irony is the council claims they don't want to give us this information because it's commercially sensitive because they got such a good deal on the digital wall.
"Now I'm sorry, who doesn't smell a rat there?"
On Thursday afternoon, The council released a statement on their website saying the wall would cost $1.245 million.
Council Head of Libraries and Information Carolyn Robertson said it was always the council's intent to release the figure it was simply a matter of timing.
Mr Williams said the council releasing the final figure of the cost of the wall was a major win for transparency.
Newshub.
