How to make a written submission
Once you've learned as much as you can about the proposed plan, plan change or variation, and carefully thought about the effects it will have, you are ready to make a written submission.
- Get a submission form from your council, council website or from the Ministry for the Environment website (this will be Form 5 of the Resource Management (Forms, Fees, and Procedure) Regulations 2003 or similar)
- Fill out all the required information including:
- the name of the council you're sending the submission to
- the name of the plan concerned
- the name and reference number of the proposed plan, plan change or variation
- the specific parts of the proposed plan, plan change or variation your submission is about
- whether you support or oppose these provisions or have a neutral stance, whether you want amendments to the provisions, and your reasons why
- the decision you would like the council to make
- whether you want to speak at the public hearing
- whether you will consider presenting a joint case with others who have made similar submissions
- your full name, address, telephone and fax numbers, and email address (or the name and address of your agent if you have employed someone to act for you).
Make sure you state in your submission if you want to speak at a hearing. You don't have to, and while speaking at a hearing can help to highlight what you said in your submission, your submission is just as valid if you don't speak.
- Sign and date your paper submission (electronic submissions do not require a signature).
- Send your submission by post, hand delivery, fax, email or lodge through the council's website (if available) before the closing date and time.
- The notification advertisement will tell you the final day and time the council will receive submissions. The closing date is always at least 20 working days after notification of a proposed plan, plan change or variation.
Try to get your submission to the council well before the closing date and time. If you send your submission by post close to the closing date, check to make sure it has arrived in time.
