I hate to break a promise, and I did say that my previous email would be the last reminder about the Treaty Principles Bill consultation, but the breakdown of Parliament's submissions process has resulted in the Justice Committee reopening submissions until 1pm on Tuesday 14 January. I figured you would forgive me for letting you know!
We have quickly put our submission tool back online and we encourage you to use it rather than going through the Parliamentary website. It is likely that the Parliament submission system will again come under immense pressure due to large numbers of people attempting to submit at once. However, to be extra sure of success, we are collecting, printing, and delivering all submissions that come through our submission tool.
Justice Committee Chair James Meager told media that they have received more than 300,000 online submissions so far.
This blows previous records for number of submissions out of the water and doesn't include hard copy submissions.
As we have seen in the extensive coverage the media has given to those opposing the Bill, we are far from the only community organising to support each other to make submissions. Though the integrity of some of these efforts appears dubious.Â
We have been contacted about allegations of groups opposing the Treaty Principles Bill submitting multiple times using their children's names to make the submissions appear unique. We have also been contacted about influencers advising their international followers that they can submit against the Bill and indeed encouraging it.
This just reinforces that we must use these extra five days of submissions to ensure that every New Zealander who supports the Treaty Principles Bill has their say. We won't play dirty like the other side, but we do need to make every effort to throw our weight behind the Bill and behind the simple idea that we should all have equal rights. Â
Don't worry if you've never written a submission before. Our tool helps you choose the points you agree with and builds the submission for you. Quick and easy.
The sheer number of submissions clearly demonstrates that a referendum is warranted on the matter. Naysayers who oppose the people of New Zealand voting on the Treaty Principles Bill must explain why more than 300,000 submissions have been received online alone. New Zealanders want to have their say!
I urge you to join us in this last push for submissions. Talk to your friends and family. Send them the link to our submission tool.
Let's ensure that the message of equality and democracy is heard loud and clear by the Justice Select Committee.