Iain is the Executive Director of Australia’s newDemocracy Foundation, one of the world’s most influential organisations promoting the use of deliberative democracy, particularly citizens’ assemblies. Deliberative democracy creates structured forums where ordinary people can come together, examine evidence, deliberate respectfully, and find common ground on complex, contested and long‑term issues.
For almost 20 years, newDemocracy has worked with Australian local and state governments to design and support deliberative processes on issues ranging from infrastructure and climate change to democratic reform itself. Based on this experience, and on newDemocracy’s substantial research, Iain brings a deep understanding of what deliberative processes can achieve and the conditions under which they are most likely to succeed.
This work has been highly influential. Citizens’ assemblies are now Australians’ most popular form of democratic reform, reflecting both their effectiveness and growing public appetite for more meaningful participation in decision‑making. newDemocracy’s impact is also recognised internationally: it authored a deliberative democracy handbook for the United Nations Democracy Fund, and many of its projects are referenced in the OECD’s ‘deliberative wave’ report.
Why this visit matters
During his visit to Aotearoa New Zealand from 10–15 May, Iain will be meeting with MPs, public servants, local councillors, civil society organisations and media. The aim is to share international experience, build understanding of deliberative approaches, and support momentum for running more citizens’ assemblies and other deliberative processes in New Zealand.
Alongside these meetings, Trust Democracy and partners are hosting a series of public events that provide an opportunity to hear directly from Iain, learn from the Australian experience, and ask practical and strategic questions about how deliberative democracy could be used here.
Tour details
Online, Sunday 10 May
| Title: | AMA (Ask Me Anything) webinar on reforming democracy |
| Description: | For Trust Democracy and IDEA supporters who can’t make the in-person events the following week, this is a chance to put your questions about democracy – and how it could be reformed – to Iain Walker directly. |
| Date: | Sunday 10 May, 7:30–8:30pm |
| Location: | Zoom (click to open Zoom room) |
| Registration: | N/A |
Wellington, Monday 11 May
| Title: | The Future of Democracy panel with Iain Walker |
| Description: | Iain will give a keynote address, followed by a panel discussion with two political leading lights: former Attorney-General (and podcaster) Chris Finlayson, and VUW political theorist (and award-winning lecturer) Dr Claire Timperley |
| Date: | Monday 11 May, 5:30–7:00pm |
| Location: | Old Government Buildings (55 Lambton Quay), Lecture Theatre 2 (Map) |
| Registration: | Please register for this free event here by Friday 8 May |
Queenstown, Wednesday 13 May
| Title: | Doing Democracy Better with Iain Walker |
| Description: | At this event, brought to you in association with the Catalyst Trust, Iain will discuss how to renew our democracy by involving citizens more deeply in decision-making. |
| Date: | Wednesday 13 May, 7:00–8:30pm |
| Location: | The Rees Hotel, 377 Frankton Road, Queenstown |
| Registration: | Please register for this free event here by Friday 8 May |
Auckland, Thursday 14 May
| Title: | How not to be polarised: A democracy refresh with Iain Walker |
| Description: | Brought to you in association with NZ Fabian Society and the Complex Conversations Lab, Iain will examine how democracies can be improved, respond to authoritarianism and build better lives in communities. |
| Date: | Thursday 14 May, 6pm |
| Location: | Trades Hall Auditorium, 147 Great North Rd, Grey Lynn |
| Registration: | Please register for this free event here by Friday 8th May |
Iain’s visit is being hosted by Trust Democracy in collaboration with the Institute for Democratic and Economic Analysis and in association with Auckland University’s Complex Conversations Lab, the NZ Fabian Society and the Catalyst Trust. We are grateful to supporters who have helped make this visit possible.
We hope you can join us at one of these events and be part of the conversation about how we can do democracy better in Aotearoa New Zealand.