The Justice Committee of New Zealand’s Parliament will reveal the total number of submissions made on the Treaty Principles Bill this Thursday. This announcement follows an extension of the submission deadline due to technical issues on the official website, which temporarily hindered public participation. The extension provided additional time for citizens to have their voices heard on this significant piece of legislation.

Initially, the submission deadline was set for earlier in January. However, technical problems with the submission platform led the Justice Committee to extend the deadline until 1 PM on Tuesday, January 14. This decision was made unanimously by committee members to ensure that everyone who wished to contribute could do so without being disadvantaged by the technical difficulties.
James Meager, chair of the Justice Committee and a National Party Member of Parliament, stated that as of Tuesday evening, the committee had not yet been updated on the total number of submissions received since its last meeting. The latest figures will be shared during the committee’s next gathering on Thursday.
Before the initial deadline, an unprecedented wave of submissions had already been received. Approximately 300,000 online submissions had been made by the original cut-off date. Remarkably, half of these were submitted on the final day alone.
This level of engagement has broken previous records for public submissions to Parliament. The previous high mark was around 107,000 submissions on the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill in 2021. The sheer scale of public response to the Treaty Principles Bill highlights the profound interest and engagement of New Zealanders in the issues it addresses.
The extraordinary volume of submissions has placed a significant burden on the Justice Committee’s staff and supporting officials. Clerks and departmental teams are now tasked with processing and analysing the submissions to extract key insights and ensure all valid contributions are accounted for.
Meager emphasized the challenge posed by the overwhelming number of submissions, especially considering the surge in requests for oral presentations. With far more requests for oral submissions than the committee can accommodate, only a small fraction of contributors will have the chance to present their views in person or virtually.
Given the limited capacity for oral submissions, the committee will need to carefully select individuals or groups to represent diverse perspectives on the Treaty Principles Bill

The committee remains committed to completing all oral hearings by the end of February. This timeline allows the legislative process to continue without unnecessary delays, despite the logistical challenges of managing such a substantial public response.
Meager also clarified the criteria submissions must meet to be officially recognized and tabled. Valid submissions will be those that adhere to specific standards, including providing sufficient identification. Submissions submitted under pseudonyms, first names only, initials, or any form of incomplete identification will not be considered.
Submissions that meet the criteria will be tabled and released to the public as soon as possible. This transparency is crucial to ensuring public confidence in the process and allowing citizens to see the breadth and depth of opinions shared on the bill.
The response to the Treaty Principles Bill marks a historic moment for civic engagement in New Zealand. The unprecedented level of public participation demonstrates the significance of the issues at stake and the strong desire of New Zealanders to have their say in shaping the country’s laws and policies.

The Justice Committee’s efforts to manage the high volume of submissions, address logistical challenges, and ensure transparency reflect its commitment to upholding democratic values. The update expected on Thursday will provide greater clarity on the final count of submissions and offer insights into how this feedback will influence the legislative process moving forward.
As the Justice Committee navigates this challenging but vital aspect of the democratic process, the voices of hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Treaty Principles Bill. -TIN Bureau