getting started
in your region
We encourage you to start meeting regularly with other concerned ratepayers in your area, identify the issues that matter most to your community and take action.
Here’s how:
Choose a meeting date and a suitable venue
Advertise the meeting in your local/regional Facebook community groups, put an ad in your local paper, a notice on the supermarket Community bulletin board, call your local radio station, do a leaflet drop, or by word of mouth.
set an agenda
What are we upset about, and why is it important to us? What have we tried to do so far? Who is present and what skills do we have? What connections do we have? Who is happy to do what?
TIP FOR SUCCESS: It may take a few gatherings to work through these items. Before you close each meeting, agree what you’re going to address at the next meeting. Set a time-frame for your meeting durations and stick to it.
form an incorporated society
This provides legal protection for your group members.
nominate a spokesperson
Consistency of messaging and tone, and overall professionalism are vital when representing your group to both Council and the general public. Caring for your reputation is a very important task.
If a person is to address Council on a particular matter, make sure that person’s credentials / background / qualifications are clearly indicated to the panel. Dress well, speak with knowledge and avoid being antagonistic to Council members and/or public.
“Play the ball, not the man”.
advertise your group
Create a social media profile and/or an email address/phone number for contact.
Inform your local media outlet/s that you exist and intend to hold your Council to account for the matter/s you have selected.
TIP FOR SUCCESS: You are all volunteers. Work to your strengths, and share the load. No one person should take on too much.
connect & raise awareness in your community
Hold up signs on the side of a busy road – these are excellent conversation starters. Set up a ‘talk to us’ table in busy public spaces, hand out leaflets and information sheets, invite the public to your meetings. In casual conversation, raise what you’re doing with strangers at the supermarket, doctor’s surgery, sports event, wherever you are: keep talking about it.
TIP FOR SUCCESS: Paper trails are good. If you are notifying Council of a service/maintenance issue in your community, make sure you log it via their online system (many Councils use the free ‘Antenno’ app). These logs are audited independently for service delivery measurement purposes. Logging the issue by telephone does not mean it gets assigned as an item, and it may not be audited.
keep up the momentum
Meet regularly, be a focal point. Bring in guest speakers, watch educational videos together, have picnics (with signs!), print T-shirts and bumper stickers. Learn from other successful initiatives in NZ. Share with others what you have learned.
attend relevant council meetings
Keep an eye on the Council events and meetings calendar - often meetings are ‘notified’ without much notice! Plan ahead and do your research in advance. Have a team ready to attend, with timed speeches and/or questions prepared. Keep it civil and constructive.
Get to know your Councillors - how they vote, are they consistent or do they ‘flip-flop’ on issues? Who stands up for your concerns in Council? Who does not? Who turns up to meetings and who doesn’t?
TIP FOR SUCCESS: You cannot discuss a matter that is outside the scope of the agenda set for that meeting. Select your meetings carefully, and make sure you are addressing the right group for your topic.
let us know what you’re up to!
Email us on info@concernedratepayers.nz and share your initiatives with us!
The rest is up to you. Here’s how other motivated communities in NZ have tackled their Councils AND WON.
HOW TO INFLUENCE YOUR COUNCIL
Get involved
Read up on what’s going on
Call / meet one to one with Councillors
Attend Council meetings
Attend ‘meet the candidates’ sessions
Monitor how Councillors vote on matters
(sessions are published on Council YouTube channels)
Make submissions
Propose
Lobby
Publish opinion pieces
Write letters to the Editor
Engage in public forums
Ensure media report in detail about Councillor voting
Organise to support
Organise to oppose
resources
Nationwide Rates Increase Tracker
The rates data in this table is maintained and updated by the Taxpayer’s Union.
Leaflets, Signs and Digital Graphics
Not a designer? No problem! We’ve created generic branded leaflets and signs for you - simply send to the printer and get going!
Email us on info@concernedratepayers.co.nz to enquire.
Official Information Act Requests
Make, track and support other people’s OIA requests with this fantastic tool - https://fyi.org.nz/
An Official Information Act request made to Local Government is known as a ‘LGOIMA’. Slightly different legislation and request wording applies.
When making a request, be very specific and detailed – don’t just ask for “all information”, ask for “all emails, written notes, phone calls, texts etc”. Use the words “including, but not limited to.”
Law requires all Council OIAs to be published on the Council’s website.
More information can be found from the Office of the Ombudsman.
TIP FOR SUCCESS: Limit the number of questions to five on your formal application. Some Councils may request payment for their time if they regard a request as excessive or onerous.
If you have difficulty engaging with Council over a request for official information, you can contact the Ombudsman.
