Kaupapa Here | Policy Resources
Te Tira Whakamātaki dedicates time to shaping new environmental policy and challenging existing Crown policy, all grounded by the rights afforded by Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Government policy is relevant to our mahi in te taiao because it often dictates where the support, pūtea (money), and other resources will be directed which can make a huge difference in the success of biodiversity and biosecurity initiatives. It is especially relevant to Māori because policy is a key tool that the Crown wields to exercise control over te taiao and our taonga species.
Read more about why it is important to make submissions here.
Submissions
Te Tira Whakamātaki is acutely aware that while tāngata whenua engagement in policy development is a critical step in the revising outdated policy and, too often, that engagement is requested by the Crown with no resourcing or koha given in exchange for the time and knowledge freely given by Māori, particularly when it comes to writing submissions.
To help support our communities to ensure that their voices are heard, Te Tira Whakamātaki endeavours to freely share our policy resources and responses to proposed environmental policy on this page, so that any of our community members may take them as a starting point for their own response or to sign their name to if they agree with our position.
These policy submissions are free to use and we encourage you to take them and make them your own. They are categorised into past and open submissions (which can be used on bills that are currently open for consultation)
Kia kaha.
Submission on the English Language Bill
27 March 2026
Submission on the Planning Bill & the Natural Environment Bill
13 February 2026
Submission on the Game Animal Council (Herds of Special Interest) Amendment Bill
24 July 2025
Submission on the Environment (Disestablishment of the Ministry for the Environment) Amendment Bill
10 March 2026
Submission on the Sika Herd of Interest Draft Herd Management Plan
8 December 2025
Submission on the PF2050 Strategy Review Discussion Document
30 June 2025
Submission on the Building (Earthquake-Prone Buildings Amendment Bill)
16 February 2026
Draft herd management plan for proposed Fiordland wapiti Herd of Special Interest
8 December 2025
Submission on Action for Nature – Implementing New Zealand’s Biodiversity Strategy (2025 – 2030)
30 June 2025
Submission on the Emergency Management Bill (No 2)
14 February 2026
Submission on the Summary Offences (Demonstrations Near Residential Premises) Amendment Bill
6 October 2025
Submission on the Regulatory Standards Bill
17 June 2025
Understanding the Māori Purposes Bill 2024: What You Need to Know Before Making a Submission
23 March 2025
Submission to the Health Select Committee on the Gene Technology Bill
17 January 2025
Submission on the Proposed Regulatory Standards Bill Consultation
13 January 2025
Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Amendment Bill Submission
9 January 2025
Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill Submission
1 January 2025
Proposed Amendments to the Biosecurity Act
16 December 2024
Submission on the Fast Track Approvals Bill
18 April 2024
Submission on the Proposed Biodiversity Credit System
2 November 2023
Ministry for the Environment Draft Long-term Insights Briefing
18 October 2022
Response to the Changes to Wetland Provisions in the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management
10 July 2022
Response to the Draft National Adaptation Plan to Building a Climate Resilient Aotearoa New Zealand