Interactive Lesson

Select committees

How the public has its say

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Select committees are small groups of MPs from different parties who study bills closely after their first reading.

Public submissions

They invite the public to make submissions — anyone can have their say in writing, and ask to speak to the committee in person.

Reporting back

The committee suggests changes and reports back to Parliament. Committees also keep an eye on what the government is doing. Step through the process below.

Try it yourself

The public-submission process

Tap each step to follow how it works.

After a bill’s first reading, the House usually sends it to a subject select committee — a small, cross-party group of MPs — for detailed study.

Test what you learned

Quick checkQuestion 1 of 3

What can the public make to a select committee?

Sources

Based on civics material from parliament.nz and the Electoral Commission (elections.nz). Non-partisan and free to use.