Lobbying and information
Effective lobbying of MPs and parliament is vital for community and voluntary groups.
Making submissions to Parliament is one way to influence policy whereas less formal roads such as building a relationship with the local MP, the Minister responsible for the portfolio you are interested in and public servants relevant to your group is also effective. Getting the information you need may also take more work, so knowing your way around documents such as the Official Information Act is also important.
How to make submissions to Parliamentary select committees
Several websites offer a good advice on how to do a submission to a select committee of Parliament.
The Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives (NZ)
Available through www.parliament.govt.nz offers advice on how to make a submission and has an excellent downloadable PDF which takes submission-makers through all the necessary steps to make a good and effective submission to a parliamentary select committee.
www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/HvYrSay/Submission/a/9/8/a984338c3a574fcbb2adafa93aadd14f.htm
Contacting Parliamentary Ministers
Ministers in charge of the portfolio or the government agency your group is interested in may be happy to discuss issues.
A list of Ministers and their portfolios can be found at: www.dpmc.govt.nz/cabinet/ministers/ministerial-list.html.
The Ministry of Youth Development (NZ)
www.myd.govt.nz
On this website the Aotearoa Youth Voices toolkit offers advice on many areas youth can get involved in the processes of central and local government. Action Guide 8 tells how to make a submission to Parliament.
www.myd.govt.nz/ayv/haveyoursay/takeaction/actionguide8writeasubmissiontoparl.aspx
Community Resource Kit (NZ)
Available through www.community.net.nz offers guidance on communicating with central government, including how to make submissions to select committees.
www.community.net.nz/how-toguides/crk/communication/comms-government.htm
Hard copies are available at Citizens Advice Bureaux and public libraries.
Section 9, pages 1-6 "Communicating with Government".