The right to campaign for and against an issue, is something New Zealanders take for granted.
But some groups believe freedom of speech is under threat, thanks to a controversial bill proposed by the government.
The Electoral Finance Bill is designed to make election campaigns more transparent, with new rules on funding political parties and election advertising.
It also caps third party spending to $60,000 in election years.
Labour says the Exclusive Brethren election scandal of 2005 was the motivation for the bill, but when you take a look at the guts of it and what it means, critics say it goes too far.
Andrew Rouppe Van Der Voort is one of those concerned.
"I come from parents who have first hand experience living under regimes and and I don't want to see this country going there."
He is not the only one - hundreds are outraged, claiming the bill restricts free speech.
Greenpeace certainly thinks so. They fear they will be silenced because the issues they campaign on will be considered election advertising.
"The fact that a bill that proposes to deal with political parties financing during election year captures a non government organisations like Greenpeace is ridiculous." says Bunny McDiarmid.
Other groups agree, from unions to business groups; churches and academics.
Human Rights Commissioner, Judy McGregor, says of the bill, "This sort of regulation impacts so serioulsy and has such a chilling effect on freedom of expression, so we think it is serious and we do believe that it should be substantially redrafted or withdrawn."
Justice Minister, Mark Burton says it will be reworked, that is the whole idea of hearing public submissions.
And time is up for the public - they have had their say, It is now up to MPs to decide on any changes.
They will report back in a few weeks time.
