Parliament’s justice select committee has unanimously decided to extend the deadline for submissions on the Treaty Principles Bill due to significant technical issues with the online submission portal. The new deadline is now set for 1 PM on Tuesday, January 14. This decision follows an overwhelming response, with approximately 300,000 submissions received so far—almost half of which were sent in on the final day before the website encountered problems. This figure far exceeds the previous record of approximately 107,000 submissions for the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill in 2021.

As committee staff continue to process these submissions, the final count may fluctuate. To assist those affected by the technical difficulties, email submissions can also be sent to treatyprinciples@parliament.govt.nz or justice@parliament.govt.nz until Thursday at 9 AM. These email submissions will be accepted only if they reference the technical issues encountered and adhere to specific conditions, including providing the submitter’s name. Those whose submissions do not meet these criteria will need to resubmit through the official portal.

The committee has strongly encouraged the public to submit their feedback as soon as possible and not to wait until the last minute. Individuals facing technical difficulties or unsure about the status of their submissions are advised to contact committee staff for assistance, ideally including screenshots of any issues experienced to facilitate troubleshooting.

Despite these challenges, the committee has expressed appreciation for the high levels of public engagement during this process. Each individual submitter will be counted only once, even if multiple submissions are made. The handling of identical submissions from different individuals will be determined at the committee’s discretion.

Technical experts have suggested that the issues with the submission portal could be caused by low server capacity or potential cyberattacks, underscoring the need for a reliable online submission system for effective public participation in the legislative process.

The extension of the submission deadline reflects the committee’s commitment to inclusivity and ensures that a broader range of voices can be heard regarding the Treaty Principles Bill. This positive step allows for increased civic engagement and demonstrates the importance of public input in shaping legislation that impacts communities.

In summary, the continued surge of public interest in the Treaty Principles Bill and the committee’s proactive measures to accommodate submitters highlight the vital role of citizen participation in democracy. This upcoming opportunity encourages more voices to join the conversation, ultimately fostering a more transparent and responsive governance process.