In the run-up to the 2020 election, we worked with other civil society organisations to try and make sure community sector concerns and aspirations after the initial COVID-19 crisis were on the agendas of our political parties.

Category: Educating
This page provides information about educational activities on how democracy could be made to work better by providing an overview of relevant pages and posts.
List of related pages
Charities Act Review
In collaboration with Sue Barker Charities Law, Trust Democracy facilitated the involvement of over 650 people and organisations in the 2019 review of the Charities Act. It appears that this input played a part in the Government’s decision to pause the review and reconsider its direction.
Explore
An eclectic selection of references to podcasts, books, papers and websites about democracy and ways of fostering inclusion.
Deliberative Engagement: Why, What and How for Local Government
The Review into the Future for Local Government recommends more use of deliberative engagement with the public. This page provides reasons for, and resources on how to organise, public deliberation for New Zealand local authorities.
List of related posts
Strengthening Democracy through Open Government
You are invited to engage with our panelists in a discussion about how open government might strengthen democracy in Aotearoa New Zealand at a Wellington event (or by Zoom) on 13 April 2023.
Make it 16 for democracy
Watch the video recording of the presentation by Anika Green, Caitlin Taylor and Sanat Singh from the Make It 16 campaign given at the Trust Democracy meeting of 1 December 2022.
Why you should support the campaign to lower the voting age
A transcript of the presentation by Anika Green, Caitlin Taylor and Sanat Singh from the Make It 16 campaign given at the Trust Democracy meeting of 1 December 2022.
A Meeting with Members of Make It 16
Trust Democracy is pleased to present you with an opportunity to hear from, and talk with, 3 members from Make It 16 about their campaign to lower the voting age and about their experience of our democratic system.
We’ve been busy!
Trust Democracy has been working on several issues this year – read about the submissions we’ve been making, and how to get involved.
Independent review endorses Taiwan’s open government initiatives
Keitha Booth announces the publication of the review of Taiwan’s first Open Government National Action Plan 2021-2024 and reveals Taiwan’s wish to join the international Open Government Partnership. Civic groups in Taiwan applaud the action plan but seek broader collaboration across civil society, and ongoing training and promotion across central and local government to ensure long-term results and an enduring open government culture.
Charities are worth it! The case for action
Watch a video of Sue Barker arguing for an ‘enabling’ charities regime. The sector will have to act if it doesn’t want the government’s ‘restrictive’ proposals to become law. Included are Sue’s presentation slides.
Helmut Modlik speaks to Trust Democracy’s AGM
Watch or listen to the recording of Helmut Modlik, Tumu Whakarae of Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira, speaking to Trust Democracy’s AGM about his vision for deliberative community governance in Porirua.
Porirua’s forthcoming talanoa-wānanga experiment in deliberative community governance
A transcript of Helmut Modlik’s address, and the subsequent Q & A, at Trust Democracy’s Annual General Meeting that was held on 12 April 2022.
Have local councils helped us enough to help ourselves?
The future of local democracy is far too important to be left to politicians and experts alone. Simon Wright writes that ordinary people need to be at the table too.