(1)  A person may lodge a petition with a council by presenting it to a councillor or the general manager.

(2)  A person lodging a petition is to ensure that the petition contains –

(a) a clear and concise statement identifying the subject matter and the action requested; and

(b) in the case of a paper petition, a heading on each page indicating the subject matter; and

(c) in the case of a paper petition, a brief statement on each page of the subject matter and the action requested; and

(d) a statement specifying the number of signatories; and

(e) at the end of the petition –

(i) in the case of a paper petition, the full name, address and signature of the person lodging the petition; and

(ii) in the case of an electronic petition, the full name and address of the person lodging the petition and a statement by that person certifying that the statement of the subject matter and the action requested, as set out at the beginning of the petition, has not been changed.

(3)  In this section –

electronic petition means a petition where the petition is created and circulated electronically and the signatories have added their details by electronic means;

paper petition means a petition where the petition is created on paper which is then circulated and to which the signatories have added their details directly onto the paper;

petition means a paper petition or electronic petition;

signatory means –

(a) in the case of a paper petition, a person who has added his or her details to the paper petition and signed the petition; and

(b) in the case of an electronic petition, a person who has added his or her details to the electronic petition.