The Modern Slavery Bill is a proposed law. It seeks to reduce the risk that goods produced within or imported into New Zealand are linked to child and/or forced labour. The Bill requires large companies to declare the origin of their goods and report on measures taken to ensure the goods are not linked to exploitation. You can read the Modern Slavery Bill here.  

A Select Committee is a cross-party group of MPs who examine a bill or an issue in detail before making recommendations to the rest of parliament. They often invite members of the public to write submissions to express their opinions, support, or concerns as part of this process.  

A submission is a written statement where you share your views, experiences, and recommendations about a proposed law or issue.  

Yes. The Select Committee reviews each submission, summarises common themes, and can recommend changes based on public feedback. For example, last year the Government updated the legal definition of child trafficking after hearing consistent concerns raised in public submissions on a proposed law.  

Anyone can make a submission. The Select Committee want to hear from the public as well as organisations, experts, and affected community members. 

A good submission normally includes:  

• Who you are

• Why you care about the issue 

• Your main concerns or support 

• Evidence, examples or lived experience 

• Specific recommendations (e.g., ‘Amend Clause 5 to...’).  

We’ve made a template for you to edit to make it quick for you to engage, but a personalised submission is often more impactful!   

All submissions are published online with your name, unless you request confidentiality. If you would rather make a confidential submission because of privacy, safety, employment or other personal concerns, then you can do so here. Whilst your full name will be published, your contact details will not be (unless you’ve included them in your actual submission).  

You can indicate whether you’d like to make an oral submission to the Select Committee. An oral submission is a virtual or in-person presentation before the committee. Presenters usually have a short time to speak and then answer questions the Select Committee may have.  

Tearfund is collating submissions on behalf of the public and will post them to the Select Committee shortly before the deadline closes to be counted. The Committee will then review all the submissions they receive, summarise the main themes, and then report back to Parliament with their recommendations. This process usually takes a few months depending on workload and complexity. You can find out more about this process here.

Even if the Select Committee does not recommend this Bill gets amended, submissions still contribute to the public record and media coverage, which is helpful for future advocacy.  

Making a submission is a normal and respected part of the democratic process. Many people and organisations make submissions on proposed laws each year. 

However, most submissions are treated as public documents. This usually means your name and the content of your submission may be published on the Parliament website and could be quoted in reports or media coverage. 

Before submitting, we encourage you to think about what you’re comfortable sharing publicly. You may wish to: 

• Limit the amount of personal information you include 

• Avoid naming your employer if you are submitting in a personal capacity 

• Request that your submission be treated as confidential 

Most people submit without any issues. The important thing is that you feel informed and comfortable with your decision. If you have specific concerns, we’re happy to talk through your options before you submit. You can reach out to us here.