Welcome to our first newsletter of 2026 – and what a pivotal year it promises to be for those of us who care about protecting the core principles of our democracy.
This election year brings fresh opportunities, but also more challenges. We expect continued demands from those who prefer divided rights and separate systems over equal citizenship. But with your ongoing support, we can keep holding decision-makers to account, shine a light on undemocratic practices and advocate for a New Zealand where every citizen stands equal before the law.
With this in mind, we are urging you to make submissions on the Government’s proposed overhaul of New Zealand’s resource management laws—through the Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill— and also have a say on the Government's bold plan to overhaul local government by scrapping regional councils, outlined in Simplifying Local Government – a draft proposal. Although they promise simpler, faster and more efficient decision-making, both will significantly undermine the public’s ability to have a meaningful say in decisions that affect our daily lives.
In this issue, we also pay tribute to Garrick Tremain - one of New Zealand's most iconic political cartoonists and landscape painters, who passed away on 27 December 2025.
Urgent: Submissions on major Planning and Environment Bills due
Deadline: 4:30 pm, Friday, 13 February 2026.
The promised benefits of the government’s overhaul of the resource management laws include faster decisions and reduced red tape, but the proposals also raise serious democratic concerns, such as:
- Centralisation of power: Key decisions shifted upstream to high-level plans.
- Reduced public participation: Less meaningful input for ordinary New Zealanders on critical local matters.
- Entrenchment of unequal influence: One group (based on their ancestry) receives mandatory, early, and privileged access to planning processes — before the wider public even sees the drafts.
- Creation of a two-tier system: Undermines the core democratic principle of equal citizenship (one person, one vote, and an equal say for all New Zealanders).
How to submit: Via the Parliament website submission page (covers both bills).
Support available: Further information and suggested wording provided via our "LEARN MORE HERE" link.
Have your say on ‘Simplifying Local Government’!
Submissions close 20 February 2026
The Government's bold overhaul plan proposes scrapping elected regional councils and transferring their powers to Combined Territories Boards (CTBs) composed of existing mayors from city/district councils.
- CTB role: Mayors on CTBs would collectively manage regional issues, govern regional council functions, and develop a Regional Reorganisation Plan to improve long-term collaboration (e.g., via shared services or potential mergers).
- Plan process: The Regional Reorganisation Plan would undergo independent review and require Ministerial approval.
- Potential benefits: Could lead to more streamlined services, reduced bureaucracy, and better efficiency in local government.
- Key democratic concerns: Concentrates decision-making power in fewer hands (regional mayors only), weakening accountability and reducing the direct local voice currently provided by separately elected regional councillors.
Further reading and action:
RIP Garrick Tremain (1941–2025)
It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Garrick Tremain, one of New Zealand's most iconic political cartoonists and landscape painters.
Garrick died peacefully on 27 December 2025 after a courageous battle with aggressive cancer.
With his sharp eye and irreverent wit, he produced cartoons for newspapers, including the Otago Daily Times—often six or seven days a week—for over three decades. He earned a reputation as one of the country's funniest, most perceptive, and fearless commentators, skewering parliamentary pomposity and social absurdities with trademark boldness.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends. Garrick made a lasting and valuable contribution to New Zealand, and his work is remembered with admiration and gratitude. He was a valued and generous supporter of Democracy Action and will be much missed.
Recommended reading
This month's must-read is an opinion piece by Judy Gill (on Breaking Views NZ).
Late last year, the government removed the legal requirement for school boards to "give effect" to Te Tiriti o Waitangi (the Treaty of Waitangi) - instead, schools should prioritise academic achievement. This policy sparked strong backlash. Reportedly, more than 1,000 schools responded by publicly reaffirming their commitment to prioritising Te Tiriti in their curriculum.
Former teacher Judy Gill argues that "giving effect to Te Tiriti" in schools goes beyond just teaching NZ history or respecting Māori culture. In practice, it means a deeper structural change: embedding Treaty principles into school governance, leadership, and decision-making — effectively a major shift in constitutional and governance structures. READ What “Giving Effect To Te Tiriti” Means in Schools for Judy’s detailed perspective.
To send a letter of support to the education minister Erica Stanford, we suggest visiting the TEACH, DON’T PREACH website, commissioned by Hobson’s Pledge.
For other interesting commentaries, please check our ‘Further News, Views’ page and the Democracy Action Facebook page.
Join us in holding decision makers to account!
Individual action is important. Express your views to your local MP and the party leaders. Email them, or phone parliament and ask to be put through to the office. The number is 04 817 9999 or freephone 0800 7273 6282. Although the MP may not personally answer your call, parliamentary staff maintain records of all public phone calls, messages, and written correspondence. They take special note of any issue raised by multiple constituents.
Thank you for your continued interest and support. If you have any suggestions you would like to offer, or if you need further information or help, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected].
And please help spread the message by sharing our newsletters with anyone who may be interested. You can receive further updates by registering or joining us.
Kind regards,
Susan Short