Not all written submissions are created equal. Some are much more likely to influence the select committee than others, and those are typically the submissions that are relevant, straightforward, accurate and polite.

Most importantly, instead of editing a submission that an organisation has written for you or copying and pasting something from ChatGPT, try to write a unique submission based on your own experience and expertise

As an example, nearly 70% of the submissions on the conversion therapy ban in 2022 were templates from activist groups, but according the select committee, it was the other 30% of unique submissions that were, “read and analysed, and formed the basis of [their] consideration of matters in this bill.”

Filmed and edited by Isaiah Tour.
Written and presented by Robbie Nicol.
Made with the support of NZ On Air.