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Have a Say in Law Making
Who is entitled to have a say?
How can I have a say in law making?
Voting in a General Election
Voting in a Referendum
Lobbying Members of Parliament
Joining or forming a local Action Group
Organising a protest or picket
Making posters
Writing letters to the Editors of newspapers or magazines
Contacting a TV, Radio Station or Newspaper to publicise an issue
Making a petition
Submissions
Who is entitled to have a say?
All members of society are entitled to have a say about issues that affect or interest them. The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 sets out rights and freedoms guaranteed to all New Zealanders. The rights and freedoms in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act can be enforced against the government, the courts or any other public organisation (but not against private individuals).
The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act guarantees:
UNCROC guarantees:
How can I have a say in law making?
There are many ways to have a say in law making.
This information sheet has details on:
All the other ways of having a say are open to people of any age; they do not depend on you being over 18.
Voting in a General ElectionHow does Parliament make laws?What is a select committee?How are laws changed?
Once you are 18 you can enrol on the general electoral register and can vote to elect members of parliament who you think best represent your views. These members of parliament (MP's) are responsible for deciding what laws we have in New Zealand
MP’s vote to say whether “Bills “ (draft laws) should become laws that apply to everyone in New Zealand. A bill may have several “readings “ in Parliament. At a reading MP’s argue about the bill and make suggestions for changes. A bill may also be considered by a “select committee” of MP’s [see below].
Once a bill has been voted on and approved by a majority of members of parliament it is called a Statute, Act of Parliament or Legislation. A statute is a booklet which sets out the law in writing. It always has a title which describes its subject matter, and describes the year it came into force e.g. The Human Rights Act 1993 or the Children, Young Persons and their Families Act 1989. A statute can range in size from one page to hundreds of pages.
Select committees are appointed in each Parliament. They are made up of Government and MP’s from the opposition parties. There are usually between five and twelve members. Select committees are responsible for examining in depth, matters referred by the House of Representatives or started by a committee itself. Each committee is in charge of a different subject area eg. Education and Science Committee or Maori Affairs Committee.
Parliament can vote to make changes to a law (amend it) or to cancel a law (repeal it). If enough people let the Government know that they are unhappy with a law, they will often amend or repeal it, so that their political party does not lose votes at the next election.
What is a referendum?
Who is entitled to vote in a referendum?
How is a referendum started?
A referendum (plural: referenda) is a special vote on a particular issue of Government policy. Instead of voting for an MP or party who then make decisions on behalf of the voters, a referendum lets people have a direct say about particular policies. An important recent referendum in 1993 changed NZ’s voting system from First Past the Post to MMP.
Everyone who is on the electoral roll (ie. currently everyone over 18)
There are two main ways a referendum can be started:
1) By Government:
The Government allows people to vote on an issue at a general election, or local government (councils) allows ratepayers in their district to vote on an issue that affects their area.
2) By Citizens:
An individual or an organisation can petition the Government for a referendum to be held on a particular issue [see above for how to petition].
Under the Citizen Initiated Referenda Act 1993, if the petition has a large number of signatures (over 10% of people on the electoral roll) gained within a year, then the Government MUST hold a referendum on the issue. The precise wording of the question to be decided by referendum is decided by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the principal petitioner.
The Government does not have to make the result of a citizen initiated referendum into law, but it would be strongly influenced by one. Because the result is not binding on the Government, minority groups cannot be automatically prejudiced by a well-organised and powerful majority.
What is lobbying?
Who is my local MP?
How do I arrange to speak to my MP?
How do I lobby by a letter writing campaign?
Lobbying means informing MPs of your view.
MPs are your representatives in parliament. They are there to represent your views. They are paid to listen to you. If you are too young to vote in an election, you can still participate in this way of having a say. People who are under 18 are future voters, so it is sensible for MPs to listen to and act on the concerns of people in their electorate.
You can either speak to MPs in person or write to them.
Everyone who is on the electoral roll votes for an MP to represent them in a particular area of New Zealand/Aotearoa, called an electorate eg. Auckland Central or Tamaki. If you are unsure what electorate you live in or who your electorate MP is, you can find out by asking at your local post office.
1. Make an appointment
Check the phone book or your local newspaper for details of where their office is. Ring their electoral secretary to tell them who will be attending and why. Don’t let them put you off - lobbying is your right.
2. Be Prepared
Never go alone. Meet before hand to make notes about points you want to make and questions you want to ask.
Work out who will speak about what, what you want to say and what result you want:
3. The Meeting
4. After the Meeting.
Prepare an information sheet or a sample letter or a form letter about a particular issue.
Distribute this material to interested people and get them to write to:
Look in the phone book or ask a Citizens’ Advice Bureau to find out whether there is a local action group who shares your ideas, (eg. a Union for an employment issue, or Greenpeace for an environmental issue). A group may already have a campaign organised and may be able to give you useful advice and support.
If you decide to form your own group you will need to consider:
If you want to start up an action group or a not-for-profit group there are some excellent resources on the New Zealand Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations and Office of the Community & Voluntary Sector website called Keeping it Legal http://www.keepingitlegal.net.nz/
Organising a protest or picket
An effective protest or picket needs careful planning.
Before the protest:
Think about:
Remember police may monitor the protest. The police are legally able to try and stop the protest and make arrests if they think it is causing too much noise or disruption for the public or if the protest becomes violent.
Making posters
Making posters and displaying them in prominent places can be an effective way of having a say. Above all, posters should be eye-catching and easy to read. Concentrate on one main message per poster. A simple, uncluttered poster is much better at getting a message across to people passing by than one with too many different images and too many words.
A colour poster is more expensive to produce and reproduce but is more eye-catching than a black and white poster. Print should be bold and easy to read from a distance. A catchy phrase or slogan may help people to remember your campaign.
Places to display posters include community noticeboards, schools, technical institutes, universities, offices, shops, libraries, or on the street.
If you are displaying posters in public places, it is best to check for ‘stick no bills’ areas. If you put up posters in prohibited areas without permission, you risk having them removed, and/or risk being fined by the council.
Writing letters to the Editors of newspapers or magazines
Everyone, regardless of age, has the right to send a letter to the editor of a publication if they want to bring an issue to the public’s attention.
Editors do not have to publish all letters sent to them. Editors prefer letters that they think will interest the type of people who buy their publication. Accurate spelling and grammar and tidy (preferably typed) presentation will give your letter a head start in being seriously considered.
Before starting:
Start the letter with Dear Sir or Madam.
Set out your ideas and opinions in organised paragraphs
Contacting a TV, Radio Station or Newspaper to publicise an issue
What is a press release?
How do I set out a press release?
How can I use press releases strategically?
Publicity through the media lets your views reach a large number of people.
As well as the commercial tv and radio stations and the major papers, it is worth contacting access tv and radio stations and community papers. Access and community stations and papers often have a more "open-door" policy to letting you have your say and may give you more control over the way you express yourself.Handy Tips
• Make sure you have your facts right
When you're in the media, you're in the public spotlight, so make sure your facts, figures and logic are correct.
• Think about timing
A common reason actions don't get covered is because the action is badly timed for the media. Don't plan your publicity for a day when a famous visitor will be in town or the verdict of a major trial is due.
It is best to phone, or if possible, fax or hand deliver information to media organisations, because these ways of communicating are faster and more immediate than sending letters. When sending a fax, always phone first to tell a journalist it's coming.
Try and work into deadlines as best you can. Deadlines for morning papers are about 6 pm the previous day. For an evening paper aim for 11 to 12 am and for tv, 3pm. National Radio Networks work round the clock. Local radio stations' newsrooms work slightly longer than a 9-5 working day.
• Work on rapport
It's better etiquette to let journalists know "in case they're interested", rather than asking them "can you cover us?”. The truth is journalists need you as much as you need them, but they don't like to feel used.
It's a good idea to get to know some journalists on a friendly basis so your face means something to them and your name in writing stands out for them.
• Be prepared for interviews
Keep things simple and work out what is important. At the most, you'll probably get a 20 second clip on the tv or radio, or a couple of paragraphs in the paper. Try to narrow down what you have to say to about three main points.
A press release is a short written statement that is designed to alert the media to news-worthy issues or events. Sending a press release can be an efficient way of contacting different media groups.
Sending a series of press releases about your campaign is a useful technique to keep you in the media over a period of time. A good rule is to put only one headline worth of news into each press release. This way you can put out a press release at each stage of your campaign or each time you have news, and still keep future stories up your sleeve.
When you don't want information to get into the media before you are ready, write eg. "Embargoed until 8am. Thursday 2nd July" at the top of your press release.
At on the spot action, (eg. a protest), keep press releases handy so they can be given to any journalists who are there.
What is a petition?
Who can petition?
How do I prepare a petition?
Presentation of a Petition
Report on a Petition.
Referral to the Government.
A petition is a document addressed to the House of Representatives (i.e. Parliament) that is signed by one person or many.
Petitions ask Parliament to take action on some matter of public policy or law or to redress a local or private grievance.
Any New Zealand citizen or resident. There is no age restriction on people who are able to petition or sign a petition.
One person’s or organisation’s name appears at the head of the petition. This is called the “principal petitioner”. The “principal petitioner “ is usually the person who has started off or organised the petition. It is important that this person is clearly identified on the petition, because the principal petitioner is normally the person asked by a select committee [see above] to provide further information on the petition.
Style
Petition forms are available from the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives or from electorate offices. But it is not essential that these are used, as long as the petition is addressed as follows:
______________________________________
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF NEW ZEALAND IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED
The petition of [principal petitioner’s full name/title of corporation] of [postal address] and [number of other signatures] others.
Respectfully submits:
That.....
[state concisely the subject matter of, or reasons for, the petition; use a new paragraph for each point made]
Your petition therefore requests that the House....
[State what kind of action you would like Parliament to take. This part is called the “prayer” of the petition. You must ask Parliament to do something positive. A protest by itself, without asking for definite action, is not enough.]
Language
Petitions must:
• be in English or Maori
• be easily readable
• use respectful language
• be brief and accurate ( no irrelevant statements) Signatures
The principal petitioner MUST sign the petition and include a contact name and address on the front page. Including a daytime telephone number is also helpful.
Additional pages containing signatures must be headed with the “prayer “so that each page can be identified as belonging to the petition. It also shows that people signing the petition were aware of what it was asking for. Signatures on the back of these pages will also be counted.
Petitioners often divide the pages of the petition into columns for signatures, printed names and addresses, but signatures alone are acceptable.
Once a petition is ready for presentation, the principal petitioner should contact the electorate office for his or her member of Parliament or the member’s office at Parliament to arrange for that petition to be presented.
When petitions are delivered, they are checked to see that they comply with the rules of Parliament. Those that do not comply are returned to the MP who presented them. Petitions that do comply are announced in summary form to Parliament. They are referred to a select committee, who may seek further information in the form of a submission [see below] from the principal petitioner.
The select committee may also request submissions from government departments and other interested parties.
A select committee has a variety of options available when reporting on a petition to Parliament.
These include:
When Parliament refers the select committee’s report on a petition to the Government, the Government must report on whether it has acted on the committee’s recommendation. The Government’s report on all petitions referred to it is printed and available to the public.
What is a submission?
How to write a submission
Layout
Content
Writing on a Bill
Writing for an inquiry
Sending your submission
Presenting oral submissions
A submission is the presentation of views or opinions, either written or oral, on a matter currently under consideration by a select committee. [see above]
Submissions are usually made about a bill, an inquiry, or a petition. Reasons that you provide for any changes you believe should be made, or actions proposed, will give validity to your submission.
Submissions may be presented in English or Maori.
A select committee usually advertises for submissions in newspapers.
Select committees usually hear submissions in Wellington but sometimes travel to other major cities such as Auckland. You can check with the Clerk of the committee where they will hear submissions.
There is no set format, but it should be ORDERED and EASY TO READ.
Head your submission with the name of the select committee to which it is addressed, and the full title of the bill or inquiry.
It should include:
When writing a submission on a bill you should have a copy of that bill, so you know exactly what it is being proposed. Bills are available from Government book shops.
As there are no specific clauses to comment on, use the terms of reference of the inquiry as a guide to presenting your views.
The terms of reference, which are available from the Clerk of the committee state what the inquiry is set up to do. You may
then like to list any specific recommendations that you wish the committee to consider.
Twenty copies of each submission are required so that each member of the committee can have a copy.
Address your submission to:
Once the committee has decided to hear your submission, the clerk of the committee will contact you to arrange the necessary details of the time and place of the meeting.
If making submissions orally you are responsible for paying your own travel costs to meeting venues and other associated costs.
At the meeting you will be invited to sit around a table with the committee members and talk about the main points of your submission.
After the select committee has finished hearing everyone’s submissions it may report to Parliament, or make a referral to the Government in the same way as it acts on a petition.
How can I have a say in law making?
Voting in a General Election
Voting in a Referendum
Lobbying Members of Parliament
Joining or forming a local Action Group
Organising a protest or picket
Making posters
Writing letters to the Editors of newspapers or magazines
Contacting a TV, Radio Station or Newspaper to publicise an issue
Making a petition
Submissions
Who is entitled to have a say?
All members of society are entitled to have a say about issues that affect or interest them. The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 sets out rights and freedoms guaranteed to all New Zealanders. The rights and freedoms in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act can be enforced against the government, the courts or any other public organisation (but not against private individuals).
The New Zealand Bill of Rights Act guarantees:
- Freedom of expression - EVERYONE has the right to freedom of expression, including the right to receive and give information and opinions of ANY KIND in ANY FORM.
- Freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the right to adopt and to hold opinions without interference. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCROC) is an international agreement that the New Zealand Government signed in March 1993. A “child” is defined as anyone up to the age of 18.
UNCROC guarantees:
- Children capable of forming their own views have the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting them. For this purpose, children have the right to be heard in any court or other official body affecting them, either directly or through a representative. (Article 12)
- Freedom of expression for children, in any form (writing or art) or through any other media of the child’s choice. (Article 13)
- Freedom of thought, conscience and religion for children. (Article 14)
How can I have a say in law making?
There are many ways to have a say in law making.
This information sheet has details on:
- Voting in a general election.
- Voting in a referendum.
- Lobbying Members of Parliament
- Joining or forming a local action group.
- Organising a protest or picket.
- Making posters
- Writing letters to the editors of newspapers or magazines.
- Contacting a t.v, radio station or newspaper to publicise an issue.
- Making a petition
- Making submissions to Parliament Except for:
- voting in a general election; and
- voting in a referendum;
All the other ways of having a say are open to people of any age; they do not depend on you being over 18.
Voting in a General ElectionHow does Parliament make laws?What is a select committee?How are laws changed?
Voting in a General Election
Once you are 18 you can enrol on the general electoral register and can vote to elect members of parliament who you think best represent your views. These members of parliament (MP's) are responsible for deciding what laws we have in New Zealand
How does Parliament make laws?
MP’s vote to say whether “Bills “ (draft laws) should become laws that apply to everyone in New Zealand. A bill may have several “readings “ in Parliament. At a reading MP’s argue about the bill and make suggestions for changes. A bill may also be considered by a “select committee” of MP’s [see below].
Once a bill has been voted on and approved by a majority of members of parliament it is called a Statute, Act of Parliament or Legislation. A statute is a booklet which sets out the law in writing. It always has a title which describes its subject matter, and describes the year it came into force e.g. The Human Rights Act 1993 or the Children, Young Persons and their Families Act 1989. A statute can range in size from one page to hundreds of pages.
What is a select committee?
Select committees are appointed in each Parliament. They are made up of Government and MP’s from the opposition parties. There are usually between five and twelve members. Select committees are responsible for examining in depth, matters referred by the House of Representatives or started by a committee itself. Each committee is in charge of a different subject area eg. Education and Science Committee or Maori Affairs Committee.
How are laws changed?
Parliament can vote to make changes to a law (amend it) or to cancel a law (repeal it). If enough people let the Government know that they are unhappy with a law, they will often amend or repeal it, so that their political party does not lose votes at the next election.
Voting in a Referendum
What is a referendum?
Who is entitled to vote in a referendum?
How is a referendum started?
What is a referendum?
A referendum (plural: referenda) is a special vote on a particular issue of Government policy. Instead of voting for an MP or party who then make decisions on behalf of the voters, a referendum lets people have a direct say about particular policies. An important recent referendum in 1993 changed NZ’s voting system from First Past the Post to MMP.
Who is entitled to vote in a referendum?
Everyone who is on the electoral roll (ie. currently everyone over 18)
How is a referendum started?
There are two main ways a referendum can be started:
1) By Government:
The Government allows people to vote on an issue at a general election, or local government (councils) allows ratepayers in their district to vote on an issue that affects their area.
2) By Citizens:
An individual or an organisation can petition the Government for a referendum to be held on a particular issue [see above for how to petition].
Under the Citizen Initiated Referenda Act 1993, if the petition has a large number of signatures (over 10% of people on the electoral roll) gained within a year, then the Government MUST hold a referendum on the issue. The precise wording of the question to be decided by referendum is decided by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, in consultation with the principal petitioner.
The Government does not have to make the result of a citizen initiated referendum into law, but it would be strongly influenced by one. Because the result is not binding on the Government, minority groups cannot be automatically prejudiced by a well-organised and powerful majority.
Lobbying Members of Parliament
What is lobbying?
Who is my local MP?
How do I arrange to speak to my MP?
How do I lobby by a letter writing campaign?
What is lobbying?
Lobbying means informing MPs of your view.
MPs are your representatives in parliament. They are there to represent your views. They are paid to listen to you. If you are too young to vote in an election, you can still participate in this way of having a say. People who are under 18 are future voters, so it is sensible for MPs to listen to and act on the concerns of people in their electorate.
You can either speak to MPs in person or write to them.
Who is my local MP?
Everyone who is on the electoral roll votes for an MP to represent them in a particular area of New Zealand/Aotearoa, called an electorate eg. Auckland Central or Tamaki. If you are unsure what electorate you live in or who your electorate MP is, you can find out by asking at your local post office.
How do I arrange to speak to my MP?
1. Make an appointment
Check the phone book or your local newspaper for details of where their office is. Ring their electoral secretary to tell them who will be attending and why. Don’t let them put you off - lobbying is your right.
2. Be Prepared
Never go alone. Meet before hand to make notes about points you want to make and questions you want to ask.
Work out who will speak about what, what you want to say and what result you want:
- eg. you want a commitment from them to...
- you want them to change their views about...
- you want to inform them about...
- you wish to support their view on...(someone else may be trying to change it).
3. The Meeting
- List the points you want to make.
- Keep to the topic-you may have only 15 minutes.
- Use local examples to make your point, eg how you, your co-workers, your community or voters in your area are affected.
- Be polite but assertive.
- Make sure someone takes notes of what’s said.
- Leave a one-page summary sheet of information with the MP.
4. After the Meeting.
- Thank the MP for the session.
- Confirm any agreements made eg. make sure you know how they will vote, or that they’ll tell you who is on select committees.
- Afterwards get together with others and discuss your next strategy.
How do I lobby by a letter writing campaign?
Prepare an information sheet or a sample letter or a form letter about a particular issue.
Distribute this material to interested people and get them to write to:
- Your MP
- Other local MPs - find people who live in their electorate.
- The Minister(s) responsible for the issue eg. Minister of Education or Minister for the Environment. Their offices are in Parliament Buildings in Wellington.
- The Prime Minister - office in Parliament Buildings in Wellington.
Joining or forming a local Action Group
Look in the phone book or ask a Citizens’ Advice Bureau to find out whether there is a local action group who shares your ideas, (eg. a Union for an employment issue, or Greenpeace for an environmental issue). A group may already have a campaign organised and may be able to give you useful advice and support.
If you decide to form your own group you will need to consider:
- your goals
- naming/designing a logo for the group
- funding
- publicity
- responsibilities and organisation within the group, eg. management, financial, secretarial.
If you want to start up an action group or a not-for-profit group there are some excellent resources on the New Zealand Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations and Office of the Community & Voluntary Sector website called Keeping it Legal http://www.keepingitlegal.net.nz/
Organising a protest or picket
An effective protest or picket needs careful planning.
Before the protest:
- organise as much publicity as possible. Alert the media [see no. 10 below] as to where and when the protest will be heard.
- make large, easy to read banners and signs with slogans that express your concerns.
- if your march or picket will be big enough to cause pedestrian or traffic blockages in public places, it is best to gain a permit from your local council in advance. The permit informs the council of who is organising the protest and of its time and place. Having a permit will help you to avoid clashes with other public events and may increase the likelihood of police co-operation.
Think about:
- the location of the protest. This can be strategic. Do you want it to be near a particular workplace or organisation?
- whether you will march somewhere or stay in one place.
- whether there will be any speakers at the protest and whether they need any microphones, megaphones etc.
Remember police may monitor the protest. The police are legally able to try and stop the protest and make arrests if they think it is causing too much noise or disruption for the public or if the protest becomes violent.
Making posters
Making posters and displaying them in prominent places can be an effective way of having a say. Above all, posters should be eye-catching and easy to read. Concentrate on one main message per poster. A simple, uncluttered poster is much better at getting a message across to people passing by than one with too many different images and too many words.
A colour poster is more expensive to produce and reproduce but is more eye-catching than a black and white poster. Print should be bold and easy to read from a distance. A catchy phrase or slogan may help people to remember your campaign.
Places to display posters include community noticeboards, schools, technical institutes, universities, offices, shops, libraries, or on the street.
If you are displaying posters in public places, it is best to check for ‘stick no bills’ areas. If you put up posters in prohibited areas without permission, you risk having them removed, and/or risk being fined by the council.
Writing letters to the Editors of newspapers or magazines
Everyone, regardless of age, has the right to send a letter to the editor of a publication if they want to bring an issue to the public’s attention.
Editors do not have to publish all letters sent to them. Editors prefer letters that they think will interest the type of people who buy their publication. Accurate spelling and grammar and tidy (preferably typed) presentation will give your letter a head start in being seriously considered.
Before starting:
- check that the newspaper or magazine publishes letters to the editor
- check the newspaper or magazine for the name of the editor
- check the newspaper or magazine to see whether they suggest a word length. If they don’t, look at the published letters for an idea of how long to make your letter.
Start the letter with Dear Sir or Madam.
Set out your ideas and opinions in organised paragraphs
Contacting a TV, Radio Station or Newspaper to publicise an issue
What is a press release?
How do I set out a press release?
How can I use press releases strategically?
Publicity through the media lets your views reach a large number of people.
As well as the commercial tv and radio stations and the major papers, it is worth contacting access tv and radio stations and community papers. Access and community stations and papers often have a more "open-door" policy to letting you have your say and may give you more control over the way you express yourself.Handy Tips
• Make sure you have your facts right
When you're in the media, you're in the public spotlight, so make sure your facts, figures and logic are correct.
• Think about timing
A common reason actions don't get covered is because the action is badly timed for the media. Don't plan your publicity for a day when a famous visitor will be in town or the verdict of a major trial is due.
It is best to phone, or if possible, fax or hand deliver information to media organisations, because these ways of communicating are faster and more immediate than sending letters. When sending a fax, always phone first to tell a journalist it's coming.
Try and work into deadlines as best you can. Deadlines for morning papers are about 6 pm the previous day. For an evening paper aim for 11 to 12 am and for tv, 3pm. National Radio Networks work round the clock. Local radio stations' newsrooms work slightly longer than a 9-5 working day.
• Work on rapport
It's better etiquette to let journalists know "in case they're interested", rather than asking them "can you cover us?”. The truth is journalists need you as much as you need them, but they don't like to feel used.
It's a good idea to get to know some journalists on a friendly basis so your face means something to them and your name in writing stands out for them.
• Be prepared for interviews
Keep things simple and work out what is important. At the most, you'll probably get a 20 second clip on the tv or radio, or a couple of paragraphs in the paper. Try to narrow down what you have to say to about three main points.
What is a press release?
A press release is a short written statement that is designed to alert the media to news-worthy issues or events. Sending a press release can be an efficient way of contacting different media groups.
How do I set out a press release?
- Press releases should be written on one side of A4 paper, in the style of a news item.
- They need to cover what, why, who, where and when. Remember to include a contact name, address, and telephone number.
- The first sentence should try and say as much as possible about the main facts.
- The most important statement should be at the top, the least important at the bottom.
How can I use press releases strategically?
Sending a series of press releases about your campaign is a useful technique to keep you in the media over a period of time. A good rule is to put only one headline worth of news into each press release. This way you can put out a press release at each stage of your campaign or each time you have news, and still keep future stories up your sleeve.
When you don't want information to get into the media before you are ready, write eg. "Embargoed until 8am. Thursday 2nd July" at the top of your press release.
At on the spot action, (eg. a protest), keep press releases handy so they can be given to any journalists who are there.
Making a petition
What is a petition?
Who can petition?
How do I prepare a petition?
Presentation of a Petition
Report on a Petition.
Referral to the Government.
What is a petition?
A petition is a document addressed to the House of Representatives (i.e. Parliament) that is signed by one person or many.
Petitions ask Parliament to take action on some matter of public policy or law or to redress a local or private grievance.
Who can petition?
Any New Zealand citizen or resident. There is no age restriction on people who are able to petition or sign a petition.
One person’s or organisation’s name appears at the head of the petition. This is called the “principal petitioner”. The “principal petitioner “ is usually the person who has started off or organised the petition. It is important that this person is clearly identified on the petition, because the principal petitioner is normally the person asked by a select committee [see above] to provide further information on the petition.
How do I prepare a petition?
Style
Petition forms are available from the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives or from electorate offices. But it is not essential that these are used, as long as the petition is addressed as follows:
______________________________________
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF NEW ZEALAND IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED
The petition of [principal petitioner’s full name/title of corporation] of [postal address] and [number of other signatures] others.
Respectfully submits:
That.....
[state concisely the subject matter of, or reasons for, the petition; use a new paragraph for each point made]
Your petition therefore requests that the House....
[State what kind of action you would like Parliament to take. This part is called the “prayer” of the petition. You must ask Parliament to do something positive. A protest by itself, without asking for definite action, is not enough.]
Language
Petitions must:
• be in English or Maori
• be easily readable
• use respectful language
• be brief and accurate ( no irrelevant statements) Signatures
The principal petitioner MUST sign the petition and include a contact name and address on the front page. Including a daytime telephone number is also helpful.
Additional pages containing signatures must be headed with the “prayer “so that each page can be identified as belonging to the petition. It also shows that people signing the petition were aware of what it was asking for. Signatures on the back of these pages will also be counted.
Petitioners often divide the pages of the petition into columns for signatures, printed names and addresses, but signatures alone are acceptable.
Presentation of a Petition
Once a petition is ready for presentation, the principal petitioner should contact the electorate office for his or her member of Parliament or the member’s office at Parliament to arrange for that petition to be presented.
When petitions are delivered, they are checked to see that they comply with the rules of Parliament. Those that do not comply are returned to the MP who presented them. Petitions that do comply are announced in summary form to Parliament. They are referred to a select committee, who may seek further information in the form of a submission [see below] from the principal petitioner.
The select committee may also request submissions from government departments and other interested parties.
Report on a Petition.
A select committee has a variety of options available when reporting on a petition to Parliament.
These include:
- a recommendation that the committee’s report be referred to the Government; or
- no recommendation at all; or
- the committee may have considered the petition with another item of business and include the petition in its report on that item.
Referral to the Government.
When Parliament refers the select committee’s report on a petition to the Government, the Government must report on whether it has acted on the committee’s recommendation. The Government’s report on all petitions referred to it is printed and available to the public.
Submissions
What is a submission?
How to write a submission
Layout
Content
Writing on a Bill
Writing for an inquiry
Sending your submission
Presenting oral submissions
What is a submission?
A submission is the presentation of views or opinions, either written or oral, on a matter currently under consideration by a select committee. [see above]
Submissions are usually made about a bill, an inquiry, or a petition. Reasons that you provide for any changes you believe should be made, or actions proposed, will give validity to your submission.
Submissions may be presented in English or Maori.
A select committee usually advertises for submissions in newspapers.
Select committees usually hear submissions in Wellington but sometimes travel to other major cities such as Auckland. You can check with the Clerk of the committee where they will hear submissions.
How to write a submission
There is no set format, but it should be ORDERED and EASY TO READ.
Head your submission with the name of the select committee to which it is addressed, and the full title of the bill or inquiry.
It should include:
- Who the submission is from (name and address)
- Whether you or others would like to speak to the committee in person (include phone numbers)
Layout
- Where possible, type your submission on one side of A4 size paper.
- Leave wide margins down both sides of the paper and spacing between paragraphs.
- Use headings and group your paragraphs under them. Numbering your paragraphs can be helpful.
- Staple the pages together in the top left-hand corner.
Content
- Be clear
- Be simple and brief (if your submission is long, it is a good idea to have a summary that lists the main conclusions and recommendations)
- Be accurate and complete.
Writing on a Bill
When writing a submission on a bill you should have a copy of that bill, so you know exactly what it is being proposed. Bills are available from Government book shops.
- First, state your general position on the bill: Whether you support or oppose the measure being proposed, and your reasons.
- Secondly, make more detailed comments on the clauses that are of concern to you eg. whether clauses should be deleted or changed and suggestions of new wording. Using the clauses, as ordered in the bill, is a good way to organise your submission.
Writing for an inquiry
As there are no specific clauses to comment on, use the terms of reference of the inquiry as a guide to presenting your views.
The terms of reference, which are available from the Clerk of the committee state what the inquiry is set up to do. You may
then like to list any specific recommendations that you wish the committee to consider.
Sending your submission
Twenty copies of each submission are required so that each member of the committee can have a copy.
Address your submission to:
- CLERK OF THE COMMITTEE
- COMMITTEE
- SELECT COMMITTEE OFFICE
- PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS
- WELLINGTON
Presenting oral submissions
Once the committee has decided to hear your submission, the clerk of the committee will contact you to arrange the necessary details of the time and place of the meeting.
If making submissions orally you are responsible for paying your own travel costs to meeting venues and other associated costs.
At the meeting you will be invited to sit around a table with the committee members and talk about the main points of your submission.
After the select committee has finished hearing everyone’s submissions it may report to Parliament, or make a referral to the Government in the same way as it acts on a petition.
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