Tauranga residents are encouraged to join the constitution conversation and share their future aspirations for New Zealand next week.

Hon Sir Michael Cullen will represent the Constitutional Advisory Panel at next week's meeting.

As part of the Government's review of New Zealand's constitution, a public meeting seeking submissions on a range of constitutional issues is at the Historic Village hall next Tuesday.

The forum is one of many ‘Constitution Conversations' held throughout the country between February and July, with submissions closing on July 1.

An independent Constitutional Advisory Panel of 12 people has been appointed to listen to, consider and report on people's views on a range of constitutional issues.

These include electoral matters such as the size of Parliament and Parliamentary terms, the role of the Treaty of Waitangi, Maori representation in national and local government, the role of the Bill of Rights Act, and whether or not a constitution should be written down in a single document.

The meetings aim to help people find out more about the topics and submission process.

Baywide Community Law Service managing solicitor Jan Beange believes it is important for Tauranga residents to have their say alongside people from the larger cities.

'It's really important for people from the regions to be able to have a voice, to hear what the issues are directly from the panel members, and to be able to engage in what is actually a nationwide conversation.”

Hon Sir Michael Cullen, who will represent the panel at the Tauranga meeting, says the constitution is for the people of New Zealand to have their say and be heard.

'Comment on these issues usually comes from experts in the large centres. We want to hear from people in regions like the Bay Of Plenty who may not normally engage in a process, so we get a good cross-section of views and voices coming through.”

Background information is available online at www.ourconstitution.org.nz and people can order free resources at 0508 411 411. The Tauranga public meeting is from 9.30 to 11.30am.

People can also join the conversation on www.facebook.com/TheConstitutionConversation