Your voice matters: Improving our engagement

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We’re working hard to improve how we connect with you, and the communities that make up our amazing city.

We’ve heard that the way we engage hasn’t always worked for everyone, so we’re making changes. We want to make it easier for everyone to share their views and to see how that input helps shape Council decisions. A new Engagement Framework and Action Plan will drive this.

Work on this project has been grounded in your past feedback and shaped by recent conversations with community. From this, we developed a set of Engagement Principles that aim to guide both the quality and intent of our engagement improvements - to make every interaction more inclusive, transparent, and meaningful.

Introducing our draft Engagement Framework

We’re excited to share Te Whiringa – Our Engagement Framework and Action Plan for your feedback.

This framework is our new approach to how we listen, involve, and partner with our communities. It weaves together your voices, Council expertise, and the principles of partnership to strengthen how we work together.

What’s in the Framework?

  • What meaningful engagement looks like at Council
  • What we’ve heard from you
  • Our shared principles and commitments
  • The six priority areas where we’ll focus our efforts to improve
  • Practical ways we’re changing how we engage across the city

On this page you can view our ‘At a glance’ summary so you can quickly understand what it’s about, or you can take the time to read the full draft Te Whiringa Engagement Framework document, before you have your say. We also have a separate copy of the Action Plan (also available in the full Engagement Framework document).

Then you can vote on the ideas you like below, and submit your own. You can also complete our survey to give detailed feedback and go into the draw to win a $500 Prezzy Card.

You can find hard copies and other ways to share your thoughts at your local Neighbourhood Hub.

There will also be opportunities to chat with us about this mahi, we’ll be out and about in the city over the next few weeks.

  • Tuesday 8 July 12.30-2.30pm at Avalon Park
  • Saturday 12 July 9am-12noon at Naenae Village Market
  • Saturday 19 July 9am-12noon at Riverbank Market
  • Saturday 26 July 10am-1pm at Wainuiomata Hub Market

Consultation runs from Monday 7 July 2025 to midnight Sunday 3 August 2025

Stay updated

Click the subscribe button under the 'stay informed' section to receive updates as work progresses on this important mahi.

We’re working hard to improve how we connect with you, and the communities that make up our amazing city.

We’ve heard that the way we engage hasn’t always worked for everyone, so we’re making changes. We want to make it easier for everyone to share their views and to see how that input helps shape Council decisions. A new Engagement Framework and Action Plan will drive this.

Work on this project has been grounded in your past feedback and shaped by recent conversations with community. From this, we developed a set of Engagement Principles that aim to guide both the quality and intent of our engagement improvements - to make every interaction more inclusive, transparent, and meaningful.

Introducing our draft Engagement Framework

We’re excited to share Te Whiringa – Our Engagement Framework and Action Plan for your feedback.

This framework is our new approach to how we listen, involve, and partner with our communities. It weaves together your voices, Council expertise, and the principles of partnership to strengthen how we work together.

What’s in the Framework?

  • What meaningful engagement looks like at Council
  • What we’ve heard from you
  • Our shared principles and commitments
  • The six priority areas where we’ll focus our efforts to improve
  • Practical ways we’re changing how we engage across the city

On this page you can view our ‘At a glance’ summary so you can quickly understand what it’s about, or you can take the time to read the full draft Te Whiringa Engagement Framework document, before you have your say. We also have a separate copy of the Action Plan (also available in the full Engagement Framework document).

Then you can vote on the ideas you like below, and submit your own. You can also complete our survey to give detailed feedback and go into the draw to win a $500 Prezzy Card.

You can find hard copies and other ways to share your thoughts at your local Neighbourhood Hub.

There will also be opportunities to chat with us about this mahi, we’ll be out and about in the city over the next few weeks.

  • Tuesday 8 July 12.30-2.30pm at Avalon Park
  • Saturday 12 July 9am-12noon at Naenae Village Market
  • Saturday 19 July 9am-12noon at Riverbank Market
  • Saturday 26 July 10am-1pm at Wainuiomata Hub Market

Consultation runs from Monday 7 July 2025 to midnight Sunday 3 August 2025

Stay updated

Click the subscribe button under the 'stay informed' section to receive updates as work progresses on this important mahi.

  • The Engagement Principles

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    We will…

    Engage when it counts, in ways that work for you

    We’ll share clear, early updates about Council work you can help shape and offer a range of ways to have your say — so you can decide what matters and how you’d like to take part.

    Be inclusive and accessible

    We want to hear from everyone in Lower Hutt, especially people who haven't been heard before or have struggled with Council processes. We will listen at times and places that work for you.

    Be responsible partners under Te Tiriti

    We recognise the unique role that Mana Whenua play and are committed to engaging with Mana Whenua and hapori Māori in good faith, upholding tikanga and our commitment to Te Tiriti.

    Engage genuinely with clear intentions

    We’ll be clear about why we are asking for your input and what influence you have in each decision. We will listen, make room for new ideas, and be upfront when we need to change direction and why.

    Be clear about the impact of your feedback

    We’ll share what we heard and how it shaped our decisions — focusing on key themes and insights. When feedback is not used, we will explain why.

    These principles were endorsed by the Policy, Finance and Strategy Committee on 6 May 2025.

  • Feedback on the draft Engagement Principles

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    Thank you for your feedback on the draft engagement principles.

    Graph of engagement results

    First impressions of the principles show over 70% of responders thought they were at least on the right track, with 37.2% saying they didn't need any changes.

    Since a majority said they had at least a couple suggestions, we went through your comments and made some tweaks.

    What we heard
    		 Our response
    Feedback asked for clarity on "engaging well", and questioned how Council would determine what mattered and who was most affected. We amended the wording to make it clear that we'll engage well by sharing early updates on work that your feedback can help shape, and the different ways you can give that feedback. This also means that you will be able to see and decide for yourself what matters and affects you.
    Some thought we were committing to individual responses to feedback. Following this interpretation was a concern this would be too resource and time intensive. We amended the wording to clarify that we will focus on the key themes and insights of feedback, and share that. This table is a great example of what that looks like!
    Feedback showed a negative interpretation of the wording "hidden agendas". Some interpreted this as an admission of this happening, which was not intended. We amended the wording to be more positive, that we will engage genuinely and with clear intentions.
    Feedback questioning the ordering of the principles, and whether that indicated priority or importance. We re-ordered the principles to align more clearly to the stages of engagement, so the first is about informing on upcoming engagements and the last is about reporting back. We hope this makes it clear that the principles are not ranked in priority or importance.
    Feedback concerned that the commitment to engaging with Mana Whenua could be undemocratic or inequitable. We amended the wording to acknowledge the unique role that Mana Whenua have under Te Tiriti. One of our other principles makes clear that we aim to hear from everyone in our city, which we would hope would address concerns around inequity.
    Feedback that you want more details on how these principles will be achieved. The principles will inform the work to come on the Engagement Framework and Action plan, which will include that level of detail. We will keep you updated on progress, and there will be further opportunities to provide feedback.
Page last updated: 25 Jul 2025, 10:37 AM