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How to make a submission on the Treaty Principles Bill

The Hīkoi mō Te Tiriti sent a clear and resounding message to the coalition Government. There’s deep kotahitanga for Te Tiriti, and major opposition to the Treaty Principles Bill across Aotearoa and the union movement. 

It’s an important opportunity for our Affiliate Unions to submit to Select Committee submissions.  The CTU Rūnanga and the CTU will formally submit. Affiliate Unions are also encouraged to submit. 

Affiliate Union members are encouraged to make individual submissions too. 

You don’t need to be an expert! Your submission comes from your personal perspective – everyone can do it. It’s important the Select Committee hear from tangata Tiriti and tangata whenua.  Share this information and support others to submit as well.

Make sure to get yours in before submissions close on January 7th  

How do I submit?  

Make your submission on this page of Parliament’s website. They’ll ask for your contact details, and whether you want to talk to the Committee. You can upload your submission or write it on their website. Click “submit” and you’re done! 

ActionStation made this handy tool you can use to help write it – check it out! 

Top tips for powerful submissions 

  • Share your unique perspective and use your own words. Talk about who you are, and your relationship to the Bill.  
  • Give clear reasons why you don’t support the Bill. You can use bullet points.  
  • Make specific recommendations. The CTU is recommending the Bill be voted down and withdrawn. 
  • Use clear language and don’t swear. Your submission will be thrown out if it has swear words or abusive language. 
  • Don’t put personal details you don’t want shared in the body of your submission. Submissions get published on the Parliament website. It’s fine to share contact info in the prompts – they don’t publish that.  
  • Tick the box to speak to your written submission. It’s a powerful option to speak to the select committee on your submission and it’s very easy to do. You have 10 minutes to talk to your submission and answer any questions from the committee. You can choose to speak in person or via zoom. It is a very powerful and personal way to make your point. 

At the end of the day, the most important thing is to make a submission. Do what you need to do. If that means using a template submission – ka pai! Its best to submit before Christmas break as the deadline to submit is January 7th, 2025.

What should I write? 

If you feel like you need to know more before you start, we recommend these resources: 

Here are some prompts to get you started. You don’t need to include everything, or address evert part of the Bill. Use what makes the most sense to you. 

  • Why is Te Tiriti important to you? 
  • Why is the role of Te Tiriti important for Aotearoa? 
  • Why do you disagree with the Bill? 
  • What would the Bill’s effect be on your community, your field of work, or your whānau? 
  • If you’re submitting as a group – what does your group have in common and how does Te Tiriti impact that? For example, if you work in the same area, what relevance does Te Tiriti have to the work you do? 
  • What would you like to see happen instead? 
  • Why is this referendum a bad idea?  

Remember to make specific recommendations. The CTU is recommending the Bill be voted down and withdrawn. 

How can I safely submit as a worker? 

Your employer cannot stop you from submitting. People working in organisations, including government organisations, have the same rights as others to submit to select committees.  You can do it without compromising your employment obligations. The main things to remember are:  

  • Do this in your own time. 
  • Don’t suggest you’re representing or speaking for your employer 
  • Don’t use information you only have access to because of your job. Public information is fine to use. 

Remember – submissions are public documents. They get published on the Parliament website, including who the submission is from. Don’t include personal details in your submission (e.g. contact details) if you don’t want them to be published. 

If you chose to present your submission orally, do this in your own time and let your manager know. They should support your right to do this. If you worked directly on the Bill or work to advise ministers on matters relating to the Bill, you should not submit as an individual. 

What is the timeline for the submission process?

The timeline for the Treaty Principles Bill hearings is as follows:

  1. First Reading: The bill has already been introduced and had its first reading in Parliament.
  2. Select Committee: The bill is now with the select committee for a six-month public hearing process. This period allows for extensive written and oral submissions from the public.
  3. Public Submissions: The deadline for public submissions is January 7, 2025.
  4. Hearings Completion: The select committee aims to complete the hearings by the end of February 2025.
  5. Second Reading: After the select committee process, the bill will return to Parliament for its second reading. Most parties, except ACT, have indicated they will vote against it at this stage.

This timeline provides a structured opportunity for public input and parliamentary debate on the bill.

Download this Submission Guide