Quakers have a long tradition of "speaking truth to power", speaking directly and forthrightly to power-holders with whom we may agree, or disagree. We have made submissions on legislation, proposed legislation, and regulations in New Zealand, and on matters of Government policy.
You can read a selection of those here:
- Crown Minerals Amendment Bill, submission, October 2024
- Peaceful means of addressing conflict, an Open Letter to Government, August 2024
- Israel and Gaza, an Open Letter to the Prime Minister, June 2024
- New Zealand Space Policy Review, submission, 2022
- War in Ukraine, a Letter to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs supporting Government actions in response to the war in Ukraine, and urging the Government to be part of an international response to the growing numbers of refugees.
- Israel and Palestine, an Open Letter to the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern: New Zealand must stand for a just settlement of the conflict. June 2021.
- Inaugural foreign policy speech, letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs April 2021
- Israeli plans for the annexation of Palestinian land, letter to the PM, June 2020
West Papua, letter to PM & Minister of Foreign Affairs, June 2020. The Yearly Meeting Clerk has signed, on behalf of Yearly Meeting, a letter written by Maire Leadbeater of West Papua Action Auckland in support of a statement made by West Papauan Religious leaders. The letter and statement have been sent to our Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs requesting that the Aotearoa New Zealand government support the call for release of rhe "Balikpapan Seven" who were tried for 'treason' for taking part in anti-racism protests.
- Penal Reform/ Maori, submission to the Justice Advisory Group, March 2019
- Zero Carbon Bill, submission to NZ Government consultation, July 2018
- Centenary of outbreak of WWI, Proposed 100 gun salute, Wellington 4 August 2014, letter from the Co-Clerks, Yearly Meeting of Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Consitutional Review, submission to the Review Committee, August 2011
- Immigration Act Review, submission 2006
- Genetic Modification, Oral submission to the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification, 2001
- Treaty of Waitangi & Constitutional Reform, submission.