Submit!

The Constitutional Arrangements Committee, currently conducting an inquiry into New Zealand's constitutional structure, is seeking submissions on the terms of reference for their inquiry into the following:

1. New Zealand's constitutional development since 1840
2. the key elements in New Zealand's constitutional structure and the relationships between those elements
3. the sources of New Zealand's constitution
4. the processes other countries have followed in undertaking a range of constitutional reforms, and
5. the processes which it would be appropriate for New Zealand to follow if significant constitutional reforms were considered in the future

Note that they're primarily interested in submissions about what areas they should be looking at - not what the answers are:

The committee has begun work on terms of reference (1) and (4). To assist the committee to understand the issues that the current arrangements present, the committee invites submissions which address the terms of reference (2) and (3) in particular. The committee is especially interested to hear about those practices or conventions that are helpful or useful, or those that are obscure, or give rise to ambiguity, contradiction or frustration. Members of the public may also like to comment on aspects of our constitutional arrangements that they consider would benefit from clarification.

2 copies by Thursday, April 14, 2005 to:

John Thomson
Constitutional Arrangements Committee Secretariat
Parliament Buildings
Wellington

Alternatively, you can submit electronicly by emailing your submission to constitutionalarrangements@parliament.govt.nz.

It's a short deadline, so if you have an opinion, better get to work on voicing it now.

(Hat tip: Holden Republic)