Having your say

This information will help you to understand the political process of local government and how you can participate. You can express your views on city-wide and local issues to elected representatives, such as councillors and community board members, through committees, community boards, formal council meetings and formal consultation, such as the annual plan process.

Auckland City Council's elected representatives have many roles, one of which is to act as an advocate for the community to bring individual and community issues and concerns to the council. For contact details see mayor and councillors and community board members.

Council committees and community boards have specific responsibilities - these are outlined in the council's delegations register.

Community boards

Community board members are elected to look after local interests and to be a link between the community and the council. Community boards were established to enable communities to have a voice in decisions affecting them. Community boards ensure people have their say in local issues.

Committees

Councillors are appointed to committees. They make decisions on city-wide issues and activities and to plan policy on delegated fields of activity.

A field of activity is a specific function, which the committee has responsibility for. You will need to find out which committee is responsible for the issue you wish to address. Click here for more information or contact us for assistance.

You can express your views and have your say through community board and committee meetings by:

contacting your local councillor, committee chairperson or community board member
addressing your issues through the public forum process
speaking as a deputation
submitting a petition
attending special community board meetings for discussing specific issues.

Council

The council holds regular meetings and special meetings when required. An individual, community group or organisation may apply to address the council on matters within its jurisdiction. You can express your views and have your say at a council meeting, with consent of the mayor, by speaking as a deputation.

Speaking at a meeting

Arrangements for submitting a petition and speaking at public forum or as a deputation need to be made with the appropriate community board, or committee manager before the meeting. Contact the manager who is responsible for the community board or committee.

Deputations

Any individual, community group or organisation may address an issue by using a deputation.

To present an issue through a deputation, applications must be lodged in writing (outlining purpose, intent and expectation) to the ward/committee manager 10 days before the meeting. The chairperson must approve your application. It can be refused on the grounds of repetitiveness or offensiveness.

A deputation can be up to two persons. A deputation has 10 minutes to address the community board, committee or the council. Members might address questions to the deputation to clarify or expand a point.

If you are part of a deputation, research your issue thoroughly to provide as much detail as possible to answer any questions that may arise.

Petitions

When preparing a petition to present to a community board, committee or the council, you need to state the purpose, intent and expectation in less than 500 words.

You have two options for submitting your petition

you can request a community board member or a councillor to present the petition to the full community board, committee or the council on your behalf, or
you can present the petition in person at the meeting. You will be given five minutes to state the request (or prayer) of the petition.

Public forum

Auckland City Council has adopted a process of public forum at its community board and committee meetings. A public forum allows you to speak on an issue directly to the community board or committee meetings.

Twenty minutes is allocated at the beginning of each community board and committee meeting for public forum. A five minute limit is allocated to each speaker.

If you wish to speak at public forum, contact the appropriate ward or committee manager.

No decisions or recommendations can be made on the issue at the meeting, unless an item is included in the agenda. However, the issue can be referred to a more appropriate forum or a council officer's report can be requested to further address the issue at a subsequent meeting.

Any written material on your issue should be forwarded to the appropriate ward or committee manager before the agenda closes. The information will be included in the agenda so elected members can read and consider the information before the meeting.

Having your say on the annual plan

In May each year, the council seeks public submissions on its budget and annual plan. This is your opportunity to comment on the council's funding allocations and operational proposals for the next year.

There is a one-month period to write to the council to express your views. Special community board annual plan meetings are held and individuals and community groups can attend to express their views.

Public hearings are held in June. People or groups who have provided written submissions are able to speak on their submission.

Presentations and speaking at meetings

The conduct of council, community board and committee meetings are regulated by the council's adopted standing orders. These are meeting rules. Meeting protocol and presentation standards should be followed when speaking or making a presentation at meetings.

Further information

Council, committee and community board meeting dates are available here, and you can view copies of agendas and minutes here.