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How to Make a Submission

We publicly consult on a variety of issues every year. Read the current consultations and have your say in the future of your community.

When making a submission online you can tick the box at the end of the form and a copy of your submission will be emailed to you.

Please note, your submission, including your personal information, will be available to the public and media as part of our decision-making process.

You can also contact us at any time with comments on any issue, whether they are part of a formal consultation or not.

District Plan Change Submissions

If you are looking to Have Your Say on our latest Plan Changes, please refer to our District Plan section of the website.

• Plan Changes and Private Plan Changes

Making a Submission on a Resource Consent Application

There is a 20-working day period following public notification for written submissions to be sent to us.

• Resource consent submission form (Four pages 253KB PDF)

A submission can support, object, or a mixture of both, to parts of or the entire proposal.

The Resource Management Act (RMA) requires that a submission must be in writing and must contain the following information:

• The reason for the submission.
• Whether you support or oppose the application.
• The decision you wish us to make.
• Whether or not you wish to speak at a hearing (if you do not indicate this, you may not be invited to the hearing).
• The conditions you would like to see imposed on the consent if it is granted.
• Your name, postal address and phone number.

Send your submission to us and a copy to the applicant. We will formally acknowledge receipt of your submission. You may then be invited to participate in a pre-hearing meeting.

Tips for writing submissions 

• Focus on the points that are the most important. Make it clear which parts of the application you are referring to (if possible, refer to a specific section or part of the application).
• Be specific. Submissions should be relevant to the application and the environmental issues relating to the resource consent application.
• Clearly explain how you might be affected, and how those effects should be managed. The submission can relate only to environmental effects, and not to trade competition effects.
• Suggest alternatives to the proposed approach, giving reasons why the alternatives are more appropriate.

What next?

When the period for making submissions is finished a date is set for a pre-hearing or hearing meeting.