Update 4.50pm.
Hobson’s Pledge Spokesperson Elliot Ikilei disputed James Meaghers comments when speaking with Andrew Dickens on the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Show on NewsTalkZB.
Following the comment representatives checked the pathway their acceptance and were “satisfied it had arrived in time,” Ikilei said
Update 2.30pm
Hobson’s Pledge representatives have concluded their submission emphasizing the need for equality for all.
Chairman of the hearings Committee, Rangitata MP James Meagher in summing up mentioned Hobson’s Pledge had been included in the first wave of invitations to submit in front of the hearings, but Hobson’s Pledge had not responded by the given deadline.
Original story Midday.
The New Zealand Parliament Justice Select Committee has excluded the lobby group Hobson’s Pledge from participating in the oral submissions for the Treaty Principles Bill.
Hobson’s Pledge, a leading voice in this debate, made a positive submission on behalf of thousands of its supporters. Representatives of Hobson’s Pledge in Wellington were only informed on Monday morning that they were not on the list of submitters.
The Justice Select Committee received an overwhelming number of requests for oral submissions, making it unfeasible to accommodate everyone. Consequently, they had to prioritize and select a limited number of submissions.
Hobson’s Pledge Trustee, Elliot Ikilei, described the decision as “outrageous.”
“It is incomprehensible how our leading organization could be ignored by this committee, and it raises serious questions about this whole process,” said Ikilei. “We are the largest, most vocal, and organized organization advocating for ‘one law for all’—with more than 140,000 supporters—yet we have not been given a speaking slot, while the likes of John Tamihere and Lady Moxon have been.”
The group had anticipated that if not given a formal slot today, they would be given a slot on Thursday. In the interim, they had come to an agreement to swap their time with Democracy Action, who were on the list for today.
However, those plans were thwarted this morning when the Democracy Action team received an email from the Committee Clerks stating that no slot had been given to Hobson’s Pledge, making the swap currently impossible.
Democracy Action has agreed to give up their time at the Select Committee Hearings for Hobson’s Pledge. Ikilei expressed gratitude to Democracy Action for conceding their time but criticized the overall process.
“The committee seems very happy to allow voices in opposition, but it appears less helpful when it comes to those in support of this Bill,” he said.
