Requested information about the cost of Head Start.
Under the LGOIMA, I would like to request the following information about the costs that your council incurred due to the Government’s Head Start local government initiative:
I am interested in costs from 5 May 2026 until the date that your response was provided to the Government.
| Question | Response |
|---|---|
1. What was the total cost to the council for of all activities and work undertaken to develop and finalise its response to the Government’s Head Start local government initiative? For clarification purposes, this request is for the total cost or the best estimate of the total cost to the council of the Head Start initiative. Points 2-5 below are for components of this total. | The Chief Executive advises that Mackenzie District Council’s work on the Head Start initiative was undertaken in collaboration with Timaru District Council. [This was response was amended to include the follow-up information which was received later – see below] |
2. What consultants and contractors were engaged to advise or provided information or analysis for the council’s response to Head Start and what was the cost of each provider’s services? What were the titles of any reports provided by these consultants or contractors? | Timaru District Council has also received this information request. In addition to the information provided here, please refer to Timaru District Council’s response for further details of the work it coordinated and the associated costs. |
3. What was the total cost to the council for informing or consulting with local communities and how much was spent on surveys, advertising, informational publications (flyers, pamphlets, etc.), public meetings, websites and other such activities. | Please refer to the cost breakdown provided by Timaru District Council for details of expenditure on community information and consultation activities. [See below] |
4. What was the total cost of any extraordinary or special council meetings or workshops held regarding Head Start or the council’s response to it? | Matters relating to the Head Start initiative were considered during routine Council meetings and workshops. We are therefore unable to provide a separate cost for the portions of those meetings and workshops devoted to Head Start. |
5. What other costs were incurred by the council under this initiative and what was the value of those costs? | Most staff do not record the time spent on individual tasks. We therefore do not hold the information needed to quantify staff costs attributable to the Head Start initiative. |
Follow-up Response
Please see attached for subsequent information: