There are lots of ways to share ideas, raise concerns, or support something the Council is working on. You can take part in a way that suits you, whether that’s a quick message, a formal submission, or speaking at a meeting.
Here are the main options and how they work.
When Council is making big decisions (like Long-term plans, bylaws, or major projects), we often run a public consultation. That’s your chance to tell us what you think before decisions are made.
How to do it
- Go to our Have your say page to see what’s open right now.
- Most consultations have an online form you can fill in.
- You can also usually send feedback by email or post if you prefer (details are on each consultation page).
Tip: You can support, oppose, or suggest changes. All feedback is useful.
Note: All submissions are published on our website, so please don’t include any private details in your submission.
You’re welcome to speak directly to elected members at meetings. This can be a good option if you want to explain something in person.
There are a few types of speaking slots:
- Public comment: up to 3 minutes to speak on an agenda item or something related to that committee.
- Public presentation: up to 10 minutes for a bigger topic. You need to request this in advance.
- Petition: if you’re presenting a petition (see below), you also get up to 10 minutes.
If you wish to speak at a meeting, please contact our Governance team on governance@pncc.govt.nz or phone 06 356 8199.
Note: All meetings are livestreamed on YouTube. If you provide us with a slideshow or other presentation, this too will be published on our website.
Learn more about speaking at a Council or Coummittee meeting
A petition is a formal way to show that a group of people want Council to take action.
Petition rules
- Must have at least 20 signatures.
- The petition text must be 150 words or less (signatures don’t count).
- Each signature needs a full name and address.
- Can be written in English or te reo Māori and must be respectful (any disrespectful content may be rejected).
You will be given an opportunity to present your petition in person to Council or a Committee in a meeting, but you’ll need to request this in advance. Please contact our Governance team on governance@pncc.govt.nz or phone 06 356 8199.
If you want to raise an issue, share an idea, or ask for help, you can contact your elected members anytime.
How to do it
- Find contact details for the Mayor and Councillors on our Elected Members page.
- Email or call them, whatever you’re comfortable with.
Find out more about the Elected Members
For some projects, we hold drop-in sessions. These are informal. You can come along, ask questions, and share thoughts one-on-one. You’ll find all the details of these on our consultation webpages.
You can give feedback anytime (quick and informal)
Not everything needs a formal process. You can contact us anytime about services, problems, or ideas for improvement.
Contact us
If you’re unsure who to talk to, our customer team will point you in the right direction.