Participate in local government

There are many different ways people can participate in local government and be involved in council decision-making processes.

These include–

• Voting for council.
• Standing as a candidate for council.
• Making a submission on the boundaries for wards and constituencies – the representation arrangements.
• Contributing to a consultation or making a submission on a council plan (including the long-term plan or annual plan) or other proposal.
• Attending council meetings.

The greater the participation levels in communities, the more likely council decisions and actions will match short and long-term community objectives.

Govt.nz's consultations across government page allows both central and local government organisations to post consultations they have open. The listing can be searched by topic to make it easier for people to find out what’s happening in an area of interest, like resource management or long-term planning.