Who decides? Councils, rates and having your say

Aotearoa has two main levels of government. Central government, in Wellington, runs things like schools, hospitals and the police. Local government, your city, district or regional council, looks after the place where you live.

What does a council do?

Councils look after roads and footpaths, drinking water and drains, rubbish and recycling, parks, playgrounds, pools and libraries. They also make plans about where houses and businesses can be built, and work with iwi, businesses and community groups.

How can you have your say?

You do not have to be 18 to take part. Anyone can make a submission, which is a written or spoken response to a consultation. You can also sign or start a petition, write to a councillor, speak at a community hui, join a youth council or take part in a peaceful campaign. At 18 you can vote in local elections, held every three years.

When there's a disagreement

In a democracy, disagreements are settled peacefully by rules everyone can use. If you think a council or government agency has treated you unfairly, the Ombudsman can look into it for free. Other bodies settle other problems: the Disputes Tribunal for everyday money disputes, the Tenancy Tribunal for landlords and tenants, and the Waitangi Tribunal for claims about Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Councils make better decisions when more people speak up, including young people who will live with those decisions the longest.