Making a submission

Any person, group or organisation can make a submission.

We can only accept one submission per person, group or organisation. If you make multiple submissions, we will combine the feedback into one submission. This means you will have one opportunity to speak to us at a hearing.

If you are making a submission on behalf of a group or organisation it is important that you have your group’s permission to do so. You also need to correctly present the views of the group.

It is helpful to include the number of people in your group who support the submission, but please note that the submission will only be treated as one submission. For example, if you list 30 people on the submission, it will not be counted as 30 individual submissions. This shouldn’t worry you though: one well-reasoned submission that presents evidence or a good idea can be more effective than multiple submissions that don’t have much detail.

We usually run several consultations each year that the community is invited to provide feedback on. These consultations are listed on our website selwyn.govt.nz/yoursay. You can stay informed of our consultations by registering for Your Say Selwyn (at the top of the webpage).

We also advertise the consultations on our social media pages, at our local facilities and service centres, and in local newspapers. We consult on things like our:

• long-term plans and annual plans
• strategies and plans
• bylaws and policies
• specific projects

Our Significance and Engagement Policy guides us in understanding whether we consult on a matter or not. An important part of the policy says that before we make decisions, we must first be satisfied that we know enough about the views and preferences of the people that the decision would affect or who may be interested in it. We must also be satisfied that we have given enough consideration to their views. If we aren’t satisfied of these two things, we consult.

Our online ‘Your Say Selwyn’ consultation feedback forms are a great way to make your submission: just visit selwyn.govt.nz/yoursay. These forms ask specific questions and allow you to attach additional information, if your feedback doesn’t fit in the spaces provided.

You can also provide your feedback using one of these options:

• Email contactus@selwyn.govt.nz
• Phone 0800 SELWYN (0800 735 996)
• Delivered to our Customer Service Teams:
  • 2 Norman Kirk Drive, Rolleston
  • 1 South Terrace, Darfield
  • 19 Messines Street, Leeston
  • 22 Gerald Street, Lincoln

Information about the consultation will include the due date that your submission needs to be made by.

While we do occasionally collect informal feedback on our social media pages, we do not accept submissions through social media. This means comments made on our social media posts or on pages run by other people, groups and organisations cannot be counted as a submission. Wherever possible, we will reply to comments encouraging people to make a submission on our website, or through one of the other options listed above.

You are welcome to write whatever you would like to include in your submission, but here are some helpful tips:

• Include your name and contact information. This allows us to keep you informed of important information, such as when the hearings are happening and what the outcome of the consultation is. We won’t share your contact details with anyone else, but your name and feedback can be seen by other members of the public.
• Tell us if you want to speak at a hearing. Clearly state whether or not you want to speak to your submission at our hearings.
• Be clear and keep it relevant. We recommend that you try keep your submission focused on the issue at hand and to the point. We sometimes receive hundreds of submissions, and short, concise submissions make it easier to review the feedback.
• Provide background information on your group/organisation. If you’re making a submission on behalf of a group or organisation, it’s important to tell us about it. This could include:
  • your group/organisation’s purpose and aim
  • the number of members or participants you have
  • what you have done to understand the views of the people in your group/organisation, and
  • your position within the group/organisation.

Please be aware of how you are making your point - remember, all submissions are public so anyone can read what you submit. If your submission is abusive towards a person or group, we will ask you to revise the way you’ve worded your submission before we can accept it.

Keep in mind that submissions are not votes. This means that one well-reasoned and explained submission can be more effective than multiple submissions that don’t have much detail.

Once you've made your submission, all the submissions for that consultation will be reviewed along with advice from technical experts and other relevant evidence and all that information will be put into a public report for the people making the decision to consider.

There may also be public hearings, before the decision makers make a decision.

Once a decision has been made, it will be published on our website, along with the reports that went to the decision makers to make their decision and information on why the decision.

We have a responsibility to show our communities how we try to include the views of people affected by the issue or project, what feedback we received and how that led to the decisions that were made.

Most of our consultations will have a public hearings process. This is where you have the chance to speak to a hearings panel - usually made up of the Mayor and Councillors - about your submission. You don’t have to speak at a public hearing, but if do want to, make sure you let us know in your submission so we can contact you to arrange a time for this to happen.

Misconception one – submissions are like votes

Submissions allow us to gather feedback, ideas and perspectives from the community. This feedback is considered alongside other information including laws, regulations and expert advice. We aim to receive as many submissions as possible to help us in the decision-making process, but submissions are not votes.

Misconception two – submissions don’t really matter

No one knows your experience of Waikirikiri Selwyn better than you do. That’s why we are interested in hearing what you think. Your submission could uncover an idea or perspective we hadn’t been aware of or explain a position that needs to be considered. We need this information to help us make the most informed decisions possible. What you say matters.

Misconception three – submissions need to be highly technical

You don’t need to be a lawyer or professional writer to make a submission: they can be written however you’d like. Plain language is encouraged – your submission doesn’t need to have fancy words.

Misconception four – Council doesn’t listen to what you say

We receive submissions and advice from lots of different people who often have different ideas about what we should do. Our challenge is to balance these various views, expertise, experiences and laws to make an informed decision for Selwyn. We read every single submission we receive and take them into account when making a decision. Sometimes the decision is the one you want, and sometimes it might not be, but your submission is always considered.