NPDC Significance and Engagement Policy Consultation

Would you like to tell the NPDC whether you agree with the rules they have put together with how and when they will engage with you ?

Are you happy NPDC staff are being trained to use community engagement methods by an International Organisation, with global practices your Council will use to engage with you?

We have sought legal advice about this document as the NPDC must legally follow the rules set in this document. The following are some of the issues that were raised with the proposed document.

Page 3

• The document mentions the NPDC uses Advisory Groups for engagement. You may want to ask them to list who these groups are.
• There are 11 points of the types of groups of people the Council wants to reach. They do not mention Ratepayers. You may want to ask them to add a bullet point with ratepayers.
• There is a paragraph with Maori words you may not understand. You may want to ask for English to be used as well.
• A TIriti Outcomes Framework document is referred to Framework be used. This document has not yet been approved by Council. You may want to mention that you don’t want this document referred to in a Significance and Engagement policy until you know what the Tiriti Framework guide will agree to.

Page 6.

• There are 5 boxes of categories with medium to low, high to medium, or a considerable impact. There is not a box which will engage with you about Debt. Would you like a box added that specifically mentions when the NPDC will engage with you about debt.

Page 9.

• The NPDC ‘s approach to carrying out engagement is based on the International Association of Public Participation framework. (See our recent post for more info about this). Do you want the NPDC using global practices and different groups of people with guided questions to represent the overall community ? You may want to ask the NPDC to leave this International Association.

Page 12.

• The NPDC has a section stating they MAY not need to engage with you with Complex Financial or commercial arrangements. Just because arrangements are complex does no mean they automatically contain sensitive financial information, or would prejudice a competitive tender process. Complex arrangements may involve public-private partnerships, which ratepayers may need to know more about. Complex financial or commercial arrangements may be more likely to have a high impact on costs or debt. Not all of the detail of arrangements may be sensitive financial information. You may like to mention that you don’t think Complex arrangements should automatically be excluded from engagement with the community.

The link to the NPDC Consultation is here;

https://haveyoursay.npdc.govt.nz/npdc-proposed-significance-and-engagement-policy

The consultation closes on Wednesday 30^th September, at 11.59pm