Parks and reserves hearings
We hold hearings under the Local Government Act and the Reserves Act about certain proposals for local or regional parks and reserves.
These proposals include:
Before we have a hearing
Depending on the proposal, we may first:
- ask for informal feedback on the proposal
- find out what the community thinks by holding a public consultation
- prepare a draft proposal from the feedback
- if necessary, ask for formal feedback.
We will make it clear if we want informal or formal feedback.
We only hold hearings when we need formal feedback. Not all proposals need a hearing.
How you can have your say on a park or reserve proposal
We hold public consultations on proposals for local or regional parks and reserves.
If feedback from the consultation shows we need to take the proposal to a hearing, we will set up a panel to oversee the hearing and consider the information presented.
Visit Topics you can have your say on to find out more about how you can have your say on proposals for Auckland that interest you.
After the consultation
We review all feedback from the consultation and publish a summary report on this website. If the proposal needs to go to a hearing, we will also share the report with the hearings panel.
The hearings panel will be made up of elected members, Independent Māori Statutory Board members and independent commissioners (decision-makers from a pool of 52 independent commissioners).
The hearings panel will then hear from anyone who wants to speak in person. The hearing will be held at a council venue and the public can attend.
The hearing panel will then either:
- make a decision, depending on the delegations (authority) they have been given, or
- make a recommendation to the decision-making body (Governing Body, committee or local board).
What happens during a parks or reserves hearing
The chairperson will introduce the panel and council staff and explain how the hearing will proceed.
If you have made a submission, you will be called to speak in the order that appears on the hearing schedule. You can have legal representation and call witnesses if you wish.
Members of the hearing panel can ask questions about your submission or evidence.
For submissions made after the closing date
If you make a submission after the consultation closing date, the panel may ask you to explain why they should accept your late submission.
If the panel accepts your reasons, you will be able to speak in support of your submission.
What happens next
Once everyone who made a submission has spoken, the chairperson may ask council officers if they have any closing comments.
Once everyone else has spoken, the hearing will close or adjourn (postpone to a later date) and the panel will consider the feedback in private.
The panel will then either:
- make a decision, or
- make a recommendation to the Governing Body, committee, or local board.
We will send a copy of the decision to everyone who made a submission.
We will advise the applicant and everyone who submits feedback of the decision or recommendation of the hearing panel, and we will also publish the final plan, policy or decision on this website.
