Engaging government
On-demand course
Learn how to engage government
Many organisations believe that engaging with government requires hiring external help. But the most effective advocacy typically comes from within an organisation, from the people who know the issue best.
That's why we created In-House, our practical training course for anyone wanting to successfully engage with ministers, MPs and officials on policy and legislation.
This course won't teach you smoke and mirrors, or how to bypass the system. Instead, we walk you through the machinery of government from Cabinet decision-making to select committee submissions, and teach you how to present your position in language that officials, ministers, and MPs will understand.
This isn't a quick skim through. It's 14 hours of structured training, designed to genuinely upskill you or your team, not just give you a surface overview.
In-House helps you build long-term internal capability, allowing you to advocate for yourself without needing to outsource your voice.
In-House: How to engage with government on policy and law
Course available now
14 hours (8 on-demand sessions)
Fits your work schedule
CPD verifiable: 14 hours
$750 + gst pp (NGOs, iwi, education, and community groups)
$1,150 + gst pp (business and sector bodies)
“I really enjoyed In-House. It gave me a huge appreciation for how things work and a great insight into approaching decision-makers. It must have worked. I've had meetings with MPs and ministers, and follow-up emails since. I've already recommended it to friends from other sectors.”
-New Zealand Dental Association
Who is the course for?
NGOs and social service providers: Understand when and how decisions affecting your mission actually get made, so your input lands while it can still make a difference.
Sector groups and associations: Learn how to represent your members in a way officials and ministers can act on, not just hear.
Iwi and Māori organisations: Get a clear, practical understanding of the policy process, so you can engage with confidence on issues that matter to your communities.
Professional services: For lawyers, planners, and consultants who want advice grounded in how government actually works. Includes 14 hours of verifiable CPD.
Businesses: Most organisations rely entirely on external advisors for this. This course is for the ones who'd rather build that understanding internally.
Researchers and think tanks: Turn good evidence into something officials and decision-makers can actually use.
It pleases me that Ryan Malone, whose work I have known for years and encouraged, has pioneered In-House: How to engage with government on policy and law. Such knowledge and guidance are essential for anyone who wishes to deal with the complicated and intricate machine, the New Zealand government.
— Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer KC
As a Minister, I believed those seeking to influence policy should front up with their arguments, put their evidence on the table, and let there be a contest of ideas. In-House is grounded in that very principle. It encourages organisations to engage with government on substance, not just connections. I commend it to anyone seeking to do so on that basis.
— Hon Christopher Finlayson KC
Course content
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We break down the New Zealand system to explain how it evolved and how it works today. You’ll learn the roles of the three branches of government and understand why successful advocacy starts early.
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Influencing the minister’s agenda is the highest-leverage advocacy available. It has the power to greenlight projects or take them off the table entirely. In this session, we uncover the real drivers of political attention: the people, pressures, and events that lead ministers to prioritise one issue over another.
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When you understand the internal policy process, your advocacy becomes a constructive resource for officials, rather than just noise. This session demystifies how advice is actually built for ministers. We show you how to move beyond generic submissions and provide 'plug-and-play' input - evidence designed to slot directly into official analysis.
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To influence outcomes, you must understand the arena where the final decision is made. This session lifts the lid on the 'black box' of Cabinet to reveal the rules of the game. You will build the political literacy required to engage credibly with a minister’s office.
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This session targets the critical ‘pre-Cabinet window’ - the phase where the Lead minister consults colleagues to build the consensus needed for success. We show you how to navigate the wider ecosystem of influence, engaging beyond the Lead minister to reach Portfolio ministers, the Prime Minister’s Office, and coalition partners. Using a real-world case study, you will learn to build the strongest possible case by combining robust policy evidence with contextual intelligence.
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Many Cabinet decisions require a law change. While early engagement is ideal, Parliament remains an important battleground. This session teaches a strategic approach to supporting or challenging the minister’s legislation. We also explore members’ bills, showing how they provide a tactical opportunity to change the law or shape the government's agenda.
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The image of the select committee as an independent 'engine room' - where open-minded MPs refine laws based on public submissions - is largely mythology. In reality, the minister steers the process through a disciplined government majority. Put simply, the minister controls the bill. We show you how to advance amendments within this tightly controlled environment.
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The course concludes by bringing together the critical insights from every session. We ensure you leave with a clear, end-to-end view of the entire process and a consolidated framework for your future advocacy.
FAQs
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Corporate and sector bodies: $1,150 + gst per person
NGOs, iwi, education, and community groups: $750 + gst per person
When you register, you can choose to pay by credit card or have an invoice sent to you.
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Yes, you can purchase a team pack of 5 licences. Please email hello@civicsquare.co.nz and we will take care of the registrations and provide a single invoice for you.
You have 18 months to activate the licences from the date of purchase. This allows you to activate some licences instantly for your current team and bank the remainder for future onboarding.
Corporate and sector bodies: $4,250 + gst (equates to $850 per person, normally $1,150)
NGOs, iwi, education, and community groups: $3,000 + gst (equates to $600 per person, normally $750)
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Yes. Even though the sessions are on-demand, you can submit private questions to the facilitator using the ‘Submit Question’ function. Ryan reviews these queries regularly and will respond to you directly via email.
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You will receive a welcome email giving you immediate access to Session 1. Please save this email, as it allows you to unlock Sessions 2–8 as you progress. If it doesn’t arrive, check your spam folder or contact us directly for assistance.
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You can choose to pay immediately via credit card or request an invoice for your organisation. Simply select your preferred option during the registration process and we will handle the rest.
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You have 12 months from registration to complete the course. You will also receive downloadable slides for each session to retain as a permanent reference.
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Yes. To help maintain momentum, you can opt in to receive automated reminders if 7 days pass between sessions. Simply select this preference when you register.
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Yes. In-House qualifies as 14 hours of verifiable CPD for New Zealand professionals. It provides structured, interactive learning with verified participation records and facilitator Q&A support.
For example, it meets the continuing education requirements for lawyers (NZLS), accountants (CA ANZ), directors (IoD), engineers (EngNZ), and planners (NZPI).
Note: Please retain your Certificate of Course Completion as evidence for your annual declaration.
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Once you have completed the 8 sessions, please email hello@civicsquare.co.nz.
We will send you a brief Completion Declaration where you confirm you have completed all the sessions. On receipt, we will issue your formal Certificate verifying your 14 CPD hours.