Write to your member of parliament (MP) and Ministers
Writing or emailing your local MP and relevant Ministers is one of the ways we can make our opposition visible. You can also make an appointment to visit your MP at their local offices to discuss this issue.
Tips:
Contact details for the current MPs and how to address people in Parliament when you correspond with them are available on NZ Parliament website.
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The letter/email should be no more than one page, or around 250 words
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Examples are shown below that may be helpful, feel free to cut and paste from them
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A heading is vital to make the purpose of your letter clear
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Make your most important point in the very first sentence
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Then use the next two or three paragraphs to say why you want to stop the Treaty Principles Bill before it goes to select committee
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Including facts is great
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Include why this issue is important to you
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Ask them to respond to you
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If you are writing a letter to your MP, remember you don’t need a stamp to post it
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MPs’ email addresses all use the same formula: firstname.surname@parliament.govt.nz
Mailing address
[insert MP name]
Freepost Parliament
Private Bag 18 888
Parliament Buildings
Wellington 6160
TAKE ACTION
Write a Letter
Relevant Ministers
Prime Minister - Rt Hon Christopher Luxon
Minister of Justice - Hon Paul Goldsmith
Deputy Prime Minister - Rt Hon Winston Peters
Minister of Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti. - Hon Tama Potaka
Attorney General - Hon Judith Collins KC
Others
President of the National Party - Sylvia Wood
Letter Sample 1
<Your address>
<Date>
Dear/Tēnā koe [Name of MP]
Stop the Treaty Principles Bill going to Select Committee
I am very concerned about the government coalition commitments to review, repeal and rewrite the Treaty principles. The changes currently being made by the government have not been agreed with hapū or iwi Māori leadership. Backtracking on Te Tiriti commitments will have enduring negative impacts for Aotearoa.
I ask for the bill to be stopped now in Cabinet before it goes to select committee. Establishing how te Tiriti/the Treaty is honoured going forward should be undertaken with both Crown and hapū through a consensus-based process.
The government introducing a bill containing misinformation about te Tiriti is harmful and will lead to social unrest. Social upheaval has a significant impact on our communities and also our economy:
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a study by the International Monetary Fund on the economic impact of social upheaval across 130 nations from 1985 to 2021 suggest that major social upheaval could reduce New Zealand’s GDP by up to - 1.7% a year and a half after an event.
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Based on the country’s current $410 billion economy that would be a loss of up to $6.9 billion.
I hope for a more inclusive, cohesive and successful Aotearoa New Zealand for my children and grandchildren. The right thing to do is for the National party to pull their support for the Treaty Principles Bill in cabinet now to stop this going any further and honour te Tiriti/the Treaty.
Nāku iti noa, nā/Yours sincerely
<Your name>
Letter Sample 2
<Your address>
<Date>
Dear/Tēnā koe Minister,
Stop the Treaty Principles Bill going to Select Committee
I’m an everyday New Zealander who voted for the government and not one for protesting. However, I will not be voting for National again while this government promotes divisive, anti-Māori policy such as the Treaty Principles Bill. I ask the government to pull their support for the Treaty Principles Bill going any further because Acts’ proposed principles are not needed.
The rights of all New Zealanders and their equality before the law is protected by statutes, including the Bill of Rights Act 1990 and the Human Rights Act 1993, as well as judge-made(common) law and international agreements.
It’s wrong to unilaterally change a contract without consulting and gaining agreement from both parties involved. It’s in "bad faith." Māori need to be at the table working with the Government on this if there is to be a Treaty Principles Bill. They aren’t and that's simply unfair and unjust.
This bill is divisive and creating conflict when we need to focus on other more important issues. For example, the economy, health and infrastructure.
As many are now saying, ACT are cynically using the Treaty Principles Bill and its anti-Māori race baiting to grow their support. It’s political and it’s dangerous. Our social cohesion is at risk from trends appearing in other countries, in particular the growth of ultra conservative right wing movements.
We need to all join together to oppose the Treaty Principles Bill and create a positive inclusive country for all, where we truly value and respect our unique heritage including honouring te Tiriti/the Treaty.
Nāku iti noa, nā/Yours sincerely
<Your name>