Ngā hui Council Meetings and Agendas

If you wish to speak to Council this can be done either through a Public Forum (on general matters) or through a Deputation (specific to items on the agenda). Requests can be made by contacting the Committee secretary on 0508 800 800, by 12 noon on the working day before the meeting.

If you wish to write a petition to Council, or a Committee of Council, the petition must be received by the Chief Executive at least five clear working days before the date of the meeting at which it will be presented. The petition must contain at least 20 signatures and consist of fewer than 150 words. Each signature sheet must be addressed to the Council by writing or typing the words “To the Council” on the top of each signature sheet. Under that line, write the request of the petition, as it appears on the cover sheet. The petition request must also appear on every signature sheet. You may specify a name and address where the signed sheets are to be posted. Signatures must be original (not photocopied, faxed, scanned, pasted or otherwise transferred onto sheets of the petition). Petitions must not be disrespectful, use offensive language or include malicious statements.
 
The Chief Executive may refuse any petition that is not in the proper form, which is repetitious or offensive, or is similar to an earlier petition that has already been considered by the Council within the last 3 years. Petitioning the Council should be your last course of action, having exhausted all other remedies. A petition may be written in English or Te Reo Māori, and may be presented in either language or New Zealand Sign Language. Petitioners planning to make a petition in Te Reo Māori or sign language should advise the relevant chair at least two working days before the meeting to enable the petition to be translated and reprinted or enable the presence of a translator, if necessary. 
 
A petitioner who presents a petition to Council or any of its committees and subcommittees, may speak for 5 minutes (excluding questions) unless the meeting resolves otherwise. The Chair must terminate the presentation of the petition if he or she believes the petitioner is being disrespectful, offensive or making malicious statements. Where a petition is presented as part of a deputation or public forum, the speaking time limits relating to deputations or public forums shall apply.