Parliament’s Justice Select Committee has made the decision to reopen submissions for the Treaty Principles Bill after encountering technical issues with their website. The new deadline for submissions is set for 1 PM on Tuesday, January 14.
The situation arose when the committee initially received an impressive 300,000 online submissions, with roughly half of them submitted on the last day before the platform experienced complications. This figure significantly exceeds the previous record of about 107,000 submissions recorded for the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill in 2021.
As the committee staff work to process the submissions, the final count may vary. Submissions sent via email to the addresses treatyprinciples@parliament.govt.nz or justice@parliament.govt.nz between Monday and 9 AM on Thursday will be considered valid if they reference the website issues and include a name and submission that adhere to the submission conditions.
The committee has urged participants to make their submissions early rather than waiting until the final hours of the deadline. For individuals facing technical difficulties or unsure about their submissions, the committee staff can be contacted via email, with a request for supporting screenshots of the issues being encouraged.
Despite the challenges faced by submitters, the committee appreciates the public’s engagement and patience during this time. Notably, each submitter will be counted only once, even if they submit multiple entries, and it’s at the committee’s discretion on how to manage identical submissions from different individuals.
Problems experienced with the submission portal prevented many from meeting the original deadline of 11:59 PM on January 7. Concerns raised by submitters indicate that technical issues may have been ongoing since late November 2023, raising questions about the underlying causes, including potential server overload or external attacks.
This initiative to extend the submission deadline not only demonstrates the committee’s commitment to inclusivity in the legislative process but also provides a valuable opportunity for more individuals to share their perspectives on the Treaty Principles Bill, ensuring that a broader range of voices contributes to the discussion.
In conclusion, the continued public interest and willingness to engage in the submission process is commendable. It illustrates the importance of civic participation in shaping legislation that affects communities. The committee’s efforts to accommodate the public amidst technical difficulties also reflect a positive step forward in maintaining transparency and encouraging democratic engagement.
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