Social Media Moderation Policy & House Rules

While we openly welcome your views and encourage community discussion, we won’t tolerate the spread of misinformation and we reserve the right to hide or remove posts or comments considered offensive or discriminatory, that are threatening, disruptive, or 'trolling'. We will not tolerate hate speech, direct personal attacks; disclosure of personal information of elected members or staff, other Facebook users and individuals. We reserve the right to block anyone who does not comply with the above rules.

Purpose

This Social Media Moderation Policy provides clear guidelines for the effective, responsible management of Horowhenua District Council’s social media channels. It aims to foster a respectful, informative, and inclusive online environment that reflects the values and goals of the Council. This policy may be referred to when individuals or groups engage in unacceptable online behaviour. 

Social Media Moderation Policy(PDF, 168KB)  

Horowhenua District Council’s Social Media House Rules

We’re here to keep you informed, celebrate our district, hear your views and ideas and have good kōrero with our community. Whether you’re here for rates information, road updates, dog pics, or to share your thoughts - welcome!

To make sure our pages are safe and respectful for everyone, we’ve got a few simple rules. They're not here to squash the vibe, just to keep things kind, constructive, engaging and community-minded.

Be Kind

We’re all about respectful, inclusive conversations. Treat others how you’d like to be treated, whether you're chatting with us or each other.

Not allowed:

  • Racism, hate speech or discrimination
  • Personal attacks, bullying or harassment
  • Swearing, or threatening behaviour

Have Your Say - But Keep It Constructive

We value your feedback, ideas, questions and even your criticism - really! Just please keep it respectful and on-topic. We want this to be a place where all voices can be heard (and heard clearly).

What We’ll Hide or Remove

We may hide, delete or report comments that include:

  • Misinformation or fake news
  • Repetitive spam or promotions
  • Defamatory, offensive or harmful content
  • Violent, obscene or graphic material
  • Personal or confidential information (e.g. addresses, phone numbers)
  • Anything that breaks New Zealand law or platform rules
  • Repeat offenders might get blocked. Sorry, not sorry.

Got a Question or Issue?

Pop it in the comments or send us a DM — we’re happy to help.

We check our accounts regularly during business hours (Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm), and we’ll respond as soon as we can. If it’s urgent, please call us directly on 06 366 0999 or send an alert through to our Antenno app. 

Not Every Post Needs a Debate

Sometimes we’ll share updates where commenting is turned off - like emergency notices or service disruptions. We do this to keep the info clear and up-to-date.

Remember: This Is a Public Space

Our pages are part of our wider community. What you post can be seen by others - so keep it respectful and think before you comment. And yes, screenshots are forever.

Trolling and disruptive behaviour on our social media channels not only undermines respectful community discussion, it also diverts valuable time and resources away from meaningful engagement. As a council funded by ratepayers, we have a responsibility to use our time wisely. Managing unnecessary conflict or repeated breaches of our guidelines wastes public money that could be better spent serving our district.

In Short

  • Be respectful
  • Stay on topic
  • No hate, harm or spam
  • We're all in this together

Thanks for helping us keep this a friendly, useful space for everyone in Horowhenua. We love hearing from you, even when it’s tricky, and we’re here to listen, learn and help where we can.

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