Thousands of Kiwis' submissions hidden from record.
The New Zealand Justice Select Committee has been accused of rushing the Treaty Principles Bill report, leaving thousands of public submissions unaccounted for in the official parliamentary record.
According to Labour justice spokesperson Duncan Webb, the committee finished work on the bill over a month ahead of schedule, despite a deadline set by Parliament. This has resulted in many New Zealanders' views and contributions being excluded from the permanent record.
The criticism comes after National Party leader David Seymour promised six months of consultation before presenting the bill to Cabinet. However, Government members have since pushed for an early report, sparking claims that the process is "a sham" with utter contempt shown towards those who took the time to submit their views.
The exclusion of thousands of submissions has sparked concerns about the legitimacy and fairness of the process, particularly given the significance of the bill in relation to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The public's trust in the Government's ability to handle such a crucial issue is now being called into question.