A public forum is a period of time for the public to address elected members during a meeting of Council.
A period of up to 30 minutes has been set aside during Council meetings and speakers will have a maximum of five minutes to speak.
If you wish to speak at a Council meeting an application to speak must be received by Rotorua Lakes Council at least one day prior to the Council Meeting. We encourage members of the public to apply sooner as this will allow staff appropriate time to answer any questions you may have about the process of speaking at a public forum.
Council meetings are typically held on Wednesdays at 9.30am so this would mean applications to speak close the day prior, Tuesday at 9.30am.
Council will not hold public forums in the pre-election period, three months prior to local government elections.
Speaking at a Public Forum
There are rules around content and conduct when speaking in a public forum, including:
- The matter you’re speaking about must be Council business.
- The matter you speak about cannot be on the meetings agenda.
The chairperson also has discretion to decline to hear a speaker or to terminate a presentation at any time where:
- A speaker is repeating views presented by an earlier speaker at the same public forum;
- More than two speakers have requested to speak on the same matter at the same meeting;
- A speaker is criticising elected members and/or staff;
- A speaker is being repetitious, disrespectful, or offensive;
- The speaker has previously spoken on the same issue;
- A speaker has caused disruption at multiple previous committee and/or council meetings;
- The matter is subject to legal proceedings;
- The matter is subject to a hearing, including the hearing of submissions where the local authority or committee sits in a quasi-judicial capacity; and
- Decision-making authority on the matter rests with another body or individual.
