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Government Presentation Skills Workshop

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Government Presentation Skills Workshop

A community group wants a clear, fair explanation of how a local issue can reach New Zealand’s Parliament. Use the information below to plan and improve a short presentation. Choose evidence carefully, explain unfamiliar terms, and make your feedback specific and respectful.

The scenario

A neighbourhood is concerned about unsafe walking and cycling routes near schools. Residents want to know how national government can respond. In New Zealand, people elect Members of Parliament (MPs). MPs debate and pass laws in the House of Representatives. The government is formed by the party or parties able to command confidence in the House. Ministers lead government departments. Select committees examine proposed laws and public submissions. Local councils also make decisions about local roads and footpaths, so not every issue is decided by Parliament.

Plan and shape your message

Imagine you have two minutes to brief the community group. Make each point useful to an audience that may not know how Parliament works.

1.Which statement is the most accurate central message for your briefing?

Parliament makes every decision about every road and footpath.
Residents can raise an issue with elected representatives, but local councils may handle local roads while Parliament deals with national laws.
A select committee automatically turns every public submission into a law.
Only ministers are allowed to tell MPs about community concerns.

2.Put these ideas in a sensible order for a short presentation: explain why the issue matters; introduce the issue; explain possible routes for action; finish with a clear takeaway. Write the order as four numbered stages.

3.Match each civic term to its role in the scenario.

MP
Minister
Select committee
Local council

A person leading a government department
A local authority that makes decisions such as many local road matters
A group that examines proposed laws and hears submissions
An elected representative who sits in Parliament

4.Choose the strongest opening for the briefing and explain why it would engage this audience.

Use evidence and communicate clearly

Effective civic presentations separate what is known from what still needs checking. They explain evidence in plain language and do not claim more than the evidence supports.

5.A speaker says, “Everyone in the neighbourhood wants Parliament to pass a new road law.” What is the main problem with this claim, and what evidence could make it more reliable?

6.Which visual aid would best clarify the different possible routes for action?

A flow diagram showing residents, MP or council, Parliament, and committee steps
A decorative photograph of a government building with no labels
A long paragraph copied onto one slide
A list of unrelated political slogans

7.Rewrite this slide text as a clear spoken explanation for Year 9 listeners: “Select committees scrutinise proposed legislation and facilitate public input.”

8.True or false? Every concern about a local footpath must be decided by Parliament. Correct the statement if it is false.

TrueFalse

Rehearse, respond, improve

Presentation skills are strengthened through practice and feedback. Helpful feedback names a feature and explains its effect, then offers a practical next step.

9.Select the two most useful peer-feedback comments.

“You were boring.”
“Your step-by-step explanation made the committee process easy to follow.”
“Speak louder at the end so people at the back can hear your takeaway.”
“You are bad at public speaking.”

10.Write one respectful feedback comment for a speaker who used a clear diagram but read every word from their slides. Include one strength and one practical next step.

11.Draft a three-part outline for your two-minute briefing: opening; two key points; final takeaway. Include one accurate fact from the scenario and one action residents could take.

12.Name one presentation skill you will practise and describe exactly what you will do during rehearsal.