Upper Hutt City Council uses different types of sessions to help elected members make informed decisions. Some sessions are formal meetings where decisions are made. Others are workshops or briefings, which are used to share information and explore issues before decisions are taken.
Council and Committee meetings are where decisions are made.
- Meetings are open to the public unless there is a lawful reason to exclude the public.
- Members of the public may attend in person.
- There are opportunities to speak through public forums, deputations, or submissions, depending on the meeting.
- Agendas and reports are published before meetings, and minutes are published after meetings and record the decisions made.
- Information on how to make a submission is provided with each meeting.
- You can view contact elected members directly.
- Democratic Services can help with meeting information, agendas, and governance processes.
View details about attending and speaking at meetings on each meeting agenda.
Workshops and briefings are informal sessions for elected members and officers. They are used to:
- share information and updates
- explore issues in more detail
- test ideas and options
- provide early guidance to officers.
No decisions are made at workshops or briefings.
Council workshops and briefings are open by default. This means they are open to public observation unless there is a lawful reason to close all or part of a session.
To balance transparency with orderly proceedings:
- workshops and briefings are currently recorded and published
- members of the public do not attend workshops or briefings in person
- there are no speaking or participation rights at workshops or briefings.
View links to livestreams, recordings, agendas, and available papers are published on this website.
Sometimes a workshop or briefing, or part of it, needs to be held with the public excluded. This may happen where the discussion involves:
- personal privacy
- employment matters
- legal advice
- commercial negotiations
- confidential or sensitive information.
When this occurs:
- the reason for closing the session is recorded
- available information is published where the law allows.
Workshops and briefings help elected members:
- understand complex issues
- ask questions early
- explore options before decisions are made in public meetings.
This approach supports better, more transparent decision-making while protecting the integrity of the formal meeting process.
If you would like help finding a livestream, recording, or agenda, please contact the Council or go to the meetings section of this website.
While workshops and briefings do not allow public participation, they help inform later decisions. The public can take part in decision-making by:
- attending and speaking at Council or Committee meetings
- making submissions during consultation processes
- engaging with councillors and Council through other public channels.
View information about upcoming meetings and opportunities to participate is available on this website.