News from Trust Democracy includes articles, blog posts and information about events, activities and resources that readers may be interested in.
Category: News
This page summarises Trust Democracy’s news by providing an overview of relevant pages and posts.
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Doing Democracy Better: Iain Walker speaking tour, 10-14 May
In May, Trust Democracy is co‑hosting a national speaking tour by Iain Walker, a leading advocate and communicator in the global effort to make democracy work better. This post provides tour details, including details of the public events in Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown and online.
A place of firsts: Learning from the Porirua Assembly’s innovations in Treaty-based governance
The Porirua Assembly on Climate innovated on the citizens assembly model in many ways. We organised an event for people to learn more about its governance, design and process innovations, what was learnt, and what comes next. We have split the discussion into 4 themed videos.
Two new $500 democracy essay prizes for politics students
Trust Democracy is delighted to announce two $500 essay prizes for undergraduate politics students at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington and Waipapa Taumata Rau—University of Auckland.
Twinkles of democratic hope
Trust Democracy’s Chair, Simon Wright, reflects on 2025 and finds some twinkles of democratic hope.
Deciding Together: The Future of A F Thomas Park – the Home of the Takapuna Golf Course
Trust Democracy committee member, Anna Curnow, shares initial reflections on Auckland Council’s latest deliberative forum, which she facilitated.
Policy Exchange wrote a report against citizens’ assemblies – here are our thoughts
Trust Democracy committee member, Finn Shewell, responds to claims that citizens’ assemblies are less accurate than tossing a coin.
Parliament must prioritise its own agency!
To improve the public trust, Parliament needs to invest its own capacities and capabilities to independently and openly perform its inquiry, legislative, scrutiny and representation functions, including by providing meaningful opportunities for the public to contribute.
The wrong direction: Restricting the franchise, paving the way for a politicised public service
By restricting the franchise and centralising control of the public service, two government bills risk undermining important democratic institutions in Aotearoa.
More Referenda, Better Democracy?
Watch the video or read the transcript of Associate Professor Matheson Russell speaking to Trust Democracy’s AGM on 12 May 2025 on the topic ‘More Referenda, Better Democracy?’
Media Watch: All eyes on Democracy
Over the last month, we may well have seen more media attention on deliberative democracy in Aotearoa than in the entirety of 2024