As a council we have to make important decisions about a broad range of services over a large geographical area.
A committee meeting is one of the most effective ways to ensure these decisions are made:
Our committee meetings are:
Some committee meetings are confidential, such as those involving commercially sensitive issues.
The Governing Body is a decision-making group chaired by the mayor and made up of 20 elected ward councillors.
It is required by law to make certain decisions, such as determining property rates.
To enable efficient decision-making, the Governing Body delegates powers to committees.
These committees are known as 'committees of the Governing Body.'
Read more about the Governing Body.
Our committees are arranged into broad subject areas to make the topic more manageable.
The Governing Body decides on each committees' responsibilities at the beginning of the electoral term.
The largest committees are known as 'committees of the whole'.
They cover the following range of activities:
Committees of the whole are sometimes known as 'parent committees', because smaller committees may report to them.
Read more about committees of the whole.
We also have smaller committees (or sub-committees) that meet to cover other more specific topics, such as:
Reporting committees do not have a parent committee and usually report to the Governing Body.
These committees may have delegations to aid in the decision-making process.
Read more about the reporting and other committees.
This committee advises the Governing Body on issues of governance and risk management. It is independently chaired by someone outside of the Governing Body.
We are required by law to ensure this meeting is managed separately to avoid conflicts of interest.
Read more about the Audit and Risk Committee.
Houkura appoints one or two representatives to each Governing Body committee that manages:
Read more about Houkura.
The Governing Body Terms of Reference set out which powers can be delegated to committees and which are retained by the Governing Body.
Local body election voters select 20 ward councillors from 13 wards to the Governing Body.
While councillors are elected to represent their ward communities, they also sit on committees that make decisions affecting the whole region.
Read more about wards.
Decisions relating to resource management, liquor licensing and bylaws must follow certain procedures.
If any of these process require public input, a hearing is usually held where all sides (including the council, the applicant and any submitters who may support or oppose the proposal) can attend and have their views heard.
Read more about hearings.
Local boards make decisions on local matters on behalf of communities within a defined area.
There are 21 local boards across the Auckland region and they have their own meetings and rules.
Local board members sometimes attend committee meetings to give feedback on matters that affect their area or represent the views of their local communities.
Read more about local boards.
Larger committees, including the Governing Body, meet once every one or two months– usually on a Thursday.
Smaller committees meet once every two months.
See committee dates, agendas and minutes.
To ensure a fair process, committees have rules and procedures called 'standing orders'.
Standing orders set out a formal process for how, who and what can be decided by the meeting.
Many of the rules in standing orders come from laws that affect public meetings of local government organisations.
The Standing Orders of the Governing Body outline the rules and procedures for committee meetings.
We provide expert advice to elected members - councillors and local board members - to help them make balanced and well-considered decisions.
We must consider many factors and viewpoints and only provide actionable recommendations.
Elected members make decisions that may or may not align with our advice.
You are welcome to attend open meetings and observe decisions being made.
Some meetings (including Governing Body and all of the larger committees) are streamed live.
View live streamed meetings.
You can speak for up to five minutes at some meetings on a topic relevant to that committee.
You can request to speak to the committee up to one full working day before the meeting.
Read more about speaking at council meeting.
Each committee meeting has a chairperson (and a deputy chairperson) who runs the meeting.
The chairperson is supported by staff who are able to guide the public through the processes before, during or after a meeting.
You can contact the Governance Advisor to answer any questions about each specific committee and the processes.
Call us on 09 301 0101 and ask to speak to the Governance Advisor's team.
We have a number of other meetings to help guide and inform our decision-making responsibilities.
Read more about Advisory Panels, Co-governance entities and Council-Controlled Organisation meetings.
