HHarbourside Regional Council
♡ 42 8
New Zealand · Government
Official social media in New Zealand can be subject to its recordkeeping laws.
The Public Records Act 2005 (NZ) and the Official Information Act 1982 (NZ) can reach posts, comments and replies made on official accounts. Brolly captures them automatically so councils and agencies can answer a official information request without relying on screenshots.
30-day free trial · no credit card · unlimited accounts and users
NZ organisations that use Brolly
Know your legislation
Four things shape the record in New Zealand.
The records Act, the access regime, retention and disposal, and the authority that oversees them — each named from the legislation and linked to its source. Confirm current requirements with your records authority and legal team. Sources last reviewed 21 August 2026.
Records act
Public Records Act 2005 (NZ)
Public offices and local authorities must create and maintain full and accurate records of their affairs in accordance with normal, prudent business practice, and may only dispose of them with the authority of the Chief Archivist. Archives New Zealand sets the Information and Records Management Standard they must follow. Public Records Act 2005 No 40
Access to information
OIA
Under both the OIA (central government) and LGOIMA (councils), an agency must respond as soon as reasonably practicable and no later than 20 working days after receiving the request, with extensions where the request is large or consultation is needed. The Office of the Ombudsman investigates complaints under both Acts. Request term: official information request · Official Information Act 1982 (NZ)
Retention & disposal
General Disposal Authorities issued by the Chief Archivist (including GDA 6 for local authorities)
Retention follows the function the record documents. Social media content is kept under the same disposal authority as the business activity it evidences. Retention and disposal authorities
Records authority & oversight
Archives New Zealand (Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga)
Archives New Zealand (Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga) · Text messages and other communications guidanceOversight: Office of the Ombudsman (Tari o te Kaitiaki Mana Tangata)
In their words
“If an organisation uses text messaging or any other instantaneous, non-sequential electronic communication mechanism to conduct business, for example social media, these communications are considered records under the Public Records Act 2005 (the Act). As such, they must be managed accordingly.”
Archives New Zealand — read the guidance
How Brolly helps
Meeting the obligation in New Zealand, without screenshots.
Capture every official channel as it happens
Brolly connects to Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, YouTube, LinkedIn and TikTok through official APIs and keeps posts, comments, replies, edits and deletions with their metadata and a digital checksum. That helps you meet the recordkeeping expectations set by Archives New Zealand (Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga).
- OIA-ready exports in PDF, CSV, HTML or JSON, with chain of custody preserved
- Search by account, date, keyword or author, then export the set a records officer needs
W
Willowdale Shire CouncilFacebook · captured as it was posted
EditedWater supply interruption in Willowdale Heights. Crews are on site; estimated restoration 11:30 am 2:30 pm.
Interface reconstruction · fictional demonstration data
Retention aligned to your authority, records in your EDRMS
Set retention to follow your retention and disposal authority, so social media records are kept for as long as the business activity they evidence and disposed of on your terms. The Content Manager integration sends records into your EDRMS alongside the rest of your records.
- Retention and legal hold you control, applied per account
- Records stored on AWS cloud servers located in Australia
W
Willowdale Shire CouncilAll accounts · 4,183 records
Retention setInterface reconstruction · fictional demonstration data
A road closure, preserved
One closure notice. Every version, every reply.
This interface reconstruction uses a fictional district council, Willowdale District Council, and a flood road closure on 7 March 2026. It shows how the original notice, each edited version and the community replies around it can be reviewed together.
01
The council publishes
An official account posts a road closure notice with an estimated reopening time.
02
The post is edited
The reopening time and the cause are updated as contractors confirm them.
03
Your team reviews
Records, comms and the LGOIMA officer can see the whole chronology, and export it.
Brolly Archive
Archive feed
Captured posts and conversations from connected accounts
All networksAll accountsAll dates
Willowdale District Council
♡ 86 24
EditedBBayview Ports Authority
♡ 61 12
CCoastal District Council
RRegional Rail Link
HHinterland Regional Council
3 versions
Willowdale District CouncilWillowdale Valley Road is closed by flooding. Slip damage at the bridge approach has been confirmed; contractors are repairing it. Estimated reopening 11:30 am 2:30 pm.
♡ 86 24
Export prepared
A New Zealand council on record
If the Chief Archivist asks me are we compliant, I can say with certainty, ‘Yes, we are compliant.’
Taranaki Regional CouncilBrolly customer since 2018Read the Taranaki story →
On official channels
Councillors, mayors and the moments that matter.
Elected members, archived as business as usual
Councillors and mayors using Facebook pages or Instagram in their official role are creating content that can be subject to the Public Records Act 2005. Onboarding after members are sworn in is the natural moment to connect their accounts — and with Brolly groups, each member administers their own sub-account while the council keeps oversight and can export across all of them.
- Moderate the public version — hide or remove problem comments — while the captured record is retained
- Brolly groups: per-member sub-accounts, council-wide oversight and exports
In an emergency, the record keeps itself
During storms, floods and other emergencies, official channels carry road closures, safety advice and service updates that change by the hour. Brolly captures each version and the public conversation around it as it happens, so your team can focus on keeping the community informed — and the chronology is there for the debrief or the inquiry that follows.
- Every edit and correction kept with its timestamps
- The community’s questions and your replies, in one searchable archive
Straight answers
Questions NZ records teams ask
Can a New Zealand council's social media content be a public record?
Yes, it can. Archives New Zealand's guidance says communications made through social media to conduct business are considered records under the Public Records Act 2005. Councils and public offices decide what to keep under their disposal authority and the Information and Records Management Standard.
Source: Public Records Act 2005 (NZ) · Archives New Zealand (Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga): Text messages and other communications guidance
How long does an agency have to respond to an OIA or LGOIMA request?
As soon as reasonably practicable and no later than 20 working days, under both Acts. Extensions are allowed for large requests or where consultation is needed. Central government answers under the OIA; councils answer under LGOIMA. The Ombudsman handles complaints about both.
Source: Official Information Act 1982 (NZ) · Office of the Ombudsman (Tari o te Kaitiaki Mana Tangata)
What happens at an Archives New Zealand audit?
Archives New Zealand monitors public offices and local authorities against the Information and Records Management Standard. Being able to show that social media records are captured, managed and retrievable helps you answer the Chief Archivist's questions with evidence rather than assurances.
Source: Public Records Act 2005 (NZ) · Archives New Zealand (Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga): Text messages and other communications guidance
How does Brolly help a New Zealand council or agency?
Brolly captures official accounts continuously, keeps posts, comments, edits and deletions searchable with their metadata, and exports them in formats your records team can file or produce for an OIA or LGOIMA request. It helps you meet the Public Records Act; it does not replace your disposal authority or legal advice.
Nothing is lost.
See complete capture on your own NZ channels in a 20-minute walkthrough. Records teams welcome.