# Findings Report β€” Submissions Open Check | Field | Detail | | ------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Prompt** | #13 β€” Submissions Open Check | | **Date/Time** | 8 June 2026, 12:00 NZST | | **Task** | Check select committees for CURRENT calls for submissions relevant to older people. Record deadlines, committee, and how to submit. | | **Searches** | `site:parliament.nz "call for submissions" OR "make a submission" "aged care" OR "health" OR "housing" OR "social services" OR "justice"`; `site:parliament.nz "call for submissions" OR "make a submission" "seniors" OR "older people" OR "disability" OR "dementia" OR "carers"`; specific bill searches via news sources | --- ## Summary Scan of the Parliament make-a-submission page (8 June 2026) found **19 open calls for submissions** across all select committees. Of these, **6 are directly relevant** to older New Zealanders. The existing submissions tracker (at `07_Bills_Hansard_Votes_and_Questions/2026 Tracker - Select Committee Submissions and Reports.md`) already captures 3 of these; this report adds 3 new items and provides updated deadline intelligence. --- ## Findings: High-Relevance Current Submissions ### 1. πŸ”΄ Social Security (Jobseeker Support and Accommodation Supplement) Amendment Bill | Detail | Value | | --------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Committee** | Social Services and Community | | **Closing** | **10 June 2026 (11:59pm)** β€” 2 days away | | **Purpose** | Tightens eligibility for jobseeker support for 16–19 year olds; changes accommodation supplement entry threshold for some homeowners | | **Seniors Relevance** | **High** β€” Changes to accommodation supplement eligibility could affect older homeowners on fixed incomes. Bill framed as fiscal sustainability measure. | | **Key Concern** | Homeowners with higher accommodation costs relative to income/assets may lose or reduce accommodation supplement | | **How to submit** | https://www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission/document/54SCSSC_SCF_D440D257-BD85-429A-6261-08DEB083C0EA/social-security-jobseeker-support-and-accommodation-supplement-amendment-bill | | **Bill text** | https://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2026/306/en/latest/ | | **Sources accessed** | 8 Jun 2026 | ### 2. πŸ”΄ Residential Tenancies (Registration of Boarding House Landlords) Amendment Bill | Detail | Value | | --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Committee** | Social Services and Community | | **Closing** | **11 June 2026 (11:59pm)** β€” 3 days away | | **Purpose** | Member's bill (Jenny Salesa, Labour). Requires boarding house landlords to register on a central register. | | **Seniors Relevance** | **High** β€” Many vulnerable older people live in boarding houses. Lack of registration leads to unsafe, unregulated conditions. Bill would improve oversight and accountability. | | **How to submit** | https://www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission/document/54SCSSC_SCF_0C007074-C2D7-4E12-65C9-08DDC4D61C13/residential-tenancies-registration-of-boarding-house-landlords | | **Sources accessed** | 8 Jun 2026 | ### 3. πŸ”΄ Disability Support Services Bill β€” **HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL** | Detail | Value | | --------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Committee** | Social Services and Community | | **Closing** | **12 June 2026 (1:00pm)** β€” 4 days away | | **Purpose** | Creates first legislative framework for Disability Support Services. Introduced 18 May 2026, first reading 21 May 2026. | | **Seniors Relevance** | **Critical** β€” Older people with disabilities, long-term conditions, and those needing home support or residential care are directly affected. Many seniors and their carers rely on DSS-funded services (personal care, carer support, equipment, home modifications). | | **Key Controversies** | | | | β€’ **"Family first" clause (Clause 8)** β€” vague wording suggesting family/whānau have primary care responsibility; no clarity on where family support ends | | | β€’ **Risk of means-testing** β€” Clause 11(3)(f) & (g) lists income/asset criteria, which could allow means-testing via secondary regulations | | | β€’ **No rights framework** β€” Bill does not reference UNCRPD, Enabling Good Lives, or Te Tiriti o Waitangi | | | β€’ **Short submission period** β€” Unusually short, criticised by disability sector | | | β€’ **Lack of pre-introduction consultation** β€” Government acknowledged in Regulatory Impact Statement this would not be well received by disabled people | | | β€’ **Responds to Fleming v Attorney-General [2025] NZSC 188** β€” Supreme Court ruling on paid family care; bill potentially limits Crown liability | | | β€’ **Secondary legislation ambiguity** β€” Clauses 10(3) and 11(5) give Ministers wide powers to create new programmes by regulation | | **Key supporters/advocacy** | CCS Disability Action, Parent2Parent, NZDSN all providing submission guides; broad sector concern | | **How to submit** | https://www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission/document/54SCSSC_SCF_E6D8596D-C177-486B-CCF2-08DEB47E5457/disability-support-services-bill | | **Bill text** | https://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2026/312/en/latest/ | | **Key resources** | | | | β€’ Government factsheet: https://www.disabilitysupport.govt.nz/improving-dss/dss-bill | | | β€’ CCS Disability Action guide: https://www.ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz/news/dss-bill-submission-guide | | | β€’ Parent2Parent overview: https://parent2parent.org.nz/news/disability-support-services-bill/ | | **Sources accessed** | 8 Jun 2026 | ### 4. 🟠 Deepfake Digital Harm and Exploitation Bill β€” **NEW to tracker** | Detail | Value | | --------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Committee** | Social Services and Community | | **Closing** | **19 June 2026** β€” 11 days away | | **Purpose** | Member's bill (ACT MP Laura McClure). Makes it illegal to create, share, or threaten to share sexually explicit deepfakes without consent. Passed first reading unanimously 20 May 2026. | | **Seniors Relevance** | **Medium** β€” While framed around young people, seniors are increasingly targeted by digital scams and AI-generated exploitation. Could provide a precedent for protecting older victims of digital harm. Also relevant to elder abuse where deepfakes could be used for financial exploitation or reputation damage. | | **How to submit** | https://www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission/document/54SCSSC_SCF_41586B19-BECE-4E53-94EB-08DE11D86E7A/deepfake-digital-harm-and-exploitation-bill | | **Sources accessed** | 8 Jun 2026 | ### 5. 🟑 Summary Offences (Move-on Orders) Amendment Bill β€” **NEW to tracker** | Detail | Value | | --------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Committee** | Justice | | **Closing** | **3 July 2026** | | **Purpose** | Gives Police new powers to "move-on" people aged 14+ engaging in disorderly, criminal, or potentially criminal behaviour around retail and hospitality premises. Behaviour includes begging, rough sleeping, obstructing entry to businesses. | | **Seniors Relevance** | **Low-Medium** β€” Could affect older homeless or rough sleepers. Human rights concerns raised by Hāpai te Hauora and others. | | **How to submit** | https://www3.parliament.nz/en/pb/sc/make-a-submission/document/54SCJUST_SCF_27DD41AB-ACD3-4AFA-A59F-08DEB151B1C7/summary-offences-move-on-orders-amendment-bill | | **Sources accessed** | 8 Jun 2026 | ### 6. 🟒 Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill | Detail | Value | | --------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | | **Committee** | Social Services and Community | | **Closing** | **2 July 2026** | | **Seniors Relevance** | Minimal direct relevance to older people's issues | | **Sources accessed** | 8 Jun 2026 | --- ## Other Open Submissions (Low Seniors Relevance) The following additional submissions are open but have minimal direct relevance to older New Zealanders: - Serious Fraud Office Amendment Bill β€” closes 8 June 2026 (today) - Corrections (Management of Prisoners and Prisoners' Property) Amendment Bill β€” 10 Jun - Ngā HapΕ« o Te Iwi o Whanganui Claims Settlement Bill β€” 11 Jun - Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Amendment Bill β€” 15 Jun - Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Amendment Bill β€” 15 Jun - Drug Overdose (Assistance Protection) Legislation Bill β€” 16 Jun - Financial Markets (International Money Transfers) Amendment Bill β€” 18 Jun - Overseas Adoptions Legislation Bill β€” 23 Jun - Better Regional Boundaries Bill β€” 24 Jun - Policing Amendment Bill β€” 24 Jun - Public Finance (Prohibition on Providing Public Funds to Gangs) β€” 2 Jul - Modern Slavery Bill β€” date TBC - Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Improving Alcohol Regulation) Amendment Bill β€” 17 Jul --- ## New Legislation Noted **Crimes Legislation (Stalking and Harassment) Amendment Act 2025** β€” Came into force May 2026. Relevant to elder abuse. Ministry of Justice factsheets available. --- ## Tracker Update Needed The existing tracker at `16 Political & Campaign Intelligence/07_Bills_Hansard_Votes_and_Questions/2026 Tracker - Select Committee Submissions and Reports.md` needs: 1. **Add Deepfake Digital Harm and Exploitation Bill** to "Current Calls for Submissions" table (Medium seniors relevance) 2. **Add Summary Offences (Move-on Orders) Amendment Bill** (Low-Medium seniors relevance) 3. **Update dates** on existing items (Social Security closes in 2 days; Disability Support Services in 4 days) 4. **Update "Last updated"** from 7 June to 8 June 2026 5. **Add note** about Crimes Legislation (Stalking and Harassment) Amendment Act 2025 coming into force --- ## KB ACTION | Action | File/Folder | Priority | Notes | | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | βœ… **Patch tracker** | `07_Bills_Hansard_Votes_and_Questions/2026 Tracker - Select Committee Submissions and Reports.md` | πŸ”΄ High | Add new items, update dates, update last-updated | | πŸ”² Consider issue brief | `16 Political & Campaign Intelligence/11 Issue Briefs for Campaigning/` | 🟑 Medium | Disability Support Services Bill could warrant a briefing note on implications for older disabled people | --- _Report generated by automated research agent β€” 8 June 2026_