Engaging with Your Councillors

Public engagement at River market

There are a number of ways you can be heard by your elected members on council. 

Phone or email

Present a petition

This is a formal mechanism to make a request to Council or any of its committees and must contain at least 20 signatures. They must be received by the Council at least five working days before the date of the meeting at which they will be presented. Our Democracy Services and Advice Team can help you with the petitions process. You can contact them at democracy@whanganui.govt.nz or phone 06 349 3152.

Read our petition guidelines(PDF, 440KB)

Submissions

You may make comment through the formal submission process related to a particular consultation.

See our current consultations

Our District, Your Say

Our District, Your Say is an online community panel that provides an informal way for you to give your feedback and ideas to the council.

Join Our District, Your Say, and be a part of shaping Whanganui’s future. 

  • take part in the online surveys, questionnaires, and quick polls that interest you
  • participate in online focus groups
  • we keep your personal details private and you won’t be identified in reports of panel results
  • membership is free

We want to hear from residents, ratepayers, business owners, workers, students, volunteers and anyone who is part of our community.

If you have any questions please get in touch with us at ourdistrictyoursay@whanganui.govt.nz

You can unsubscribe from the panel at any time.

Register online

Want to speak to the council?

Making a deputation gives you, or your organisation, an opportunity to bring matters to the attention of the Mayor and Councillors concerning the Whanganui District.

How to register

Your must lodge your request to address the Council, and your agenda item or topic of interest, with us by 4.00pm on the Monday the week prior to the meeting. You can make your request via one of the following methods, and a staff member will contact you.

Register online

  • Phone 06 349 0001
  • Email democracy@whanganui.govt.nz
  • Post to Whanganui District Council, PO Box 637, Whanganui 4540
  • In person to 101 Guyton Street, Whanganui during opening hours (Monday–Friday, 8.00am–5.00pm)

Please include the following information in your registration:

  • your name, address and contact details
  • the name of the organisation and the nominated speaker appearing for that organisation (if you are representing an organisation or group)
  • a brief summary of the topic that you would like to speak about
  • details of any notes, photographs or other documentation that that you wish to use during your address or presentation (copies are required for Council's records).

How it works

Council meetings are generally held on a Tuesday every seven weeks in the Council Chamber at 101 Guyton Street, starting at 9.30am. Deputations are generally scheduled at the start of the meeting

No more than two people may speak on behalf of a deputation; each speaker may speak for up to five minutes.

The forum is not a time for debate and no formal decisions can be made. However, our elected members may ask you questions for clarification. If necessary, the matter may be referred to a future council or committee meeting for further consideration.

Copies of notes, photographs or other documentation used during your address will be required for Council's records. Anything you say, including personal information such as your name, will be available to the public and media, and your presentation will be recorded on digital video as part of the live streaming of the Council's meeting.

Criticism of individual elected members or individual staff members is not allowed.

All requests are subject to the approval of the Mayor. The Mayor may refuse applications that are:

  • Repetitious
  • Vexatious
  • Offensive
  • Does not relate to matters that fall within the responsibility of the Council
  • Where the Council could not be reasonably expected to lobby on behalf of residents; or
  • Where the deputation has an alternative ways of expressing their views through formal channels.

The Mayor may stop a speaker in progress where the subject matter is disrespectful or offensive.