17/12/2025
NPDC Council Meeting important information for tomorrow December 18th @ council chamber (worded by us to hopefully help make things "work"). Encouraging public participation in democratic process.
Please feel free to shar this with whoever you see fit.
We recognise there is a keen interest in attending this meeting, along with high levels of passion & ask for respectful interactions and acknowledgement of different perspectives (tough we know!) to seek meaningful resolutions.
If you want or need a seat inside, you may need to be onsite early and vacate your space after your interest piece -we have no influence on what others choose to do =) We understand the meeting may be "broadcast" through speakers in the foyer (this isnt fact just our memory).
EXPLAINER: This is not our meeting, we're hopefully providing some context and insight to support participation.
* PARKING Anyway, bricks an mortar stuff, NPDC are setting aside 5 additional Disability carpark spaces in the civic centre carpark -you must hold a disability park placard to use them -first in first served (that in itself will be a challenge for the "i just need it for a minute crowd, through the the road cone mover-types)
* PARKING There is parking "close-by" in the downtown carpark -but it wont fit a mobility vehicle -there are some designated disability spaces in the facility. So, maybe a logistical drop and run/ ferry service of sorts needed.
* EXPLAINER: The Civic Centre may be busier than normal as there is expected to be public presence for the Tim Tam meeting tab and the AAWP tab, so the respectful part is important. At this point if you're amongst those groups and wish to attend, that is your citizenship right -knock ya socks off.
* TOILETS regular toilets adjacent to the chamber and one accessible bathroom. Additional toilets on Level 2 by the cafe (there is an accessible one, but its tight quarters for a wheelchair)
* FOOD There is a cafe on Level Two if you need to pop out and have a break -foods good, coffee excellent.
* NURSE ONSITE NPDC are trying to accommodate needs & will have their duty nurse on location, should a medical need arise
* ONLINE On the day, this link will be live to stream the meeting if thats your preferred method https://www.npdc.govt.nz/council/council-meetings/
Our understanding is the "Notice of Motion" for the establishment of the Age and Accessibility Working Group (AAWP) is the first cab off the agenda rank & not sure if that involves procedural debate, or the like at the time, so can't advise about that. The next understanding is there are four deputations relating to the AAWP subject -again not sure if this generates councillor discussion at that point, or further in the meeting playbook. There is then 16 further deputations about the roadside biscuits and something else.
Its hard to math, but a possible 20, 10 minute deputations is over 2 hours just of that stuff! (thank you in advance for your patience!) So, this maybe hard for some to sit through, watch, observe (pay attention to), engage in and know which bits to be a part of, so making the assumption that there may be some flux in and out of the chamber and foyer area, if there is a person overflow attendance. This may also mean hanging about for the deputations and if the discussion is later in the meeting figuring out when that might be and popping back (honestly don't know, but that sounds like the complexities of democracy).
You may not feel comfortable at a council meeting, or think "na, thats not for me", that may be all the more reason to attend -you choose -if you're a little bit vocal, the public presence might be for you, just as the sitting in the chamber may not be.
You may feel things will happen without you -if you're not there, that is a higher likelihood.
Heres a link to the meeting agenda:https://www.npdc.govt.nz/media/gcmj3h25/ecm_9665608_v1_council-agenda-18-december-2025.pdf
Image credit to our friends at the Spectrum Foundation "A future for disabled people built without disabled people is not a future. It is a fiction"
