The Government's proposed reforms to restrict voting rights to elected councillors exclude the Auckland Council’s Independent Māori Statutory Board (IMSB) and the Canterbury Regional Council. Legal advice suggests the loophole can be closed. We call on the Government to act immediately and pass the necessary legislation now, rather than waiting until after the general election.  Continue reading

Although Cabinet decided in early 2024 to halt work on implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the proposed New Zealand–India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has brought the issue back before Parliament. Continue reading

·       Professionals are increasingly risking disciplinary action for expressing lawful opinions. ·       Democracy Action is encouraging everyone to support the campaign to protect freedom of expression and ensure regulators focus on professional competence—not ideology. ·       Please urge the Government to adopt the Regulated Professions Neutrality Bill to restore political neutrality to New Zealand's professional regulators. Continue reading

News, Views, Commentaries…… See more posted on the Democracy Action Facebook page Ivan Barnett: the lone goose, the abandoned flock, and a government that has turned its back on the public Ivan Barnett argues that the Government is increasingly ignoring voters' wishes while empowering unelected iwi organisations to influence public assets, services, and decision-making. READ MORE Continue reading

Democracy Action is urging New Zealanders to continue lobbying MPs to remove Article 13.2 — the UNDRIP clause — from the New Zealand–India Free Trade Agreement before ratification. The clause has nothing to do with trade, and carries significant constitutional implications. It could be used to further embed UNDRIP principles into New Zealand law and policy.  Importantly, the clause can still be removed or amended before ratification through the standard international treaty process under Article 18 of the Vienna Convention, without affecting the substance of the trade agreement itself. Continue reading

A major shift in local government is occurring through Mana Whakahono ā Rohe (MWaR) agreements under the Resource Management Act. These agreements are creating long-term participation and governance arrangements between councils and iwi authorities. The growing use of MWaR agreements is raising wider questions about democratic accountability, public oversight, governance, and who ultimately makes decisions affecting local communities. The Far North District Council’s agreement with Te Rūnanga-Ā-Iwi-Ō-Ngāpuhi demonstrates how extensive these arrangements can become. Continue reading

  See more posted on the Democracy Action Facebook page The FNDC debacle – Why democracy matters Peter Williams examines the lessons from the Far North District Council experience and highlights the importance of ensuring that those who make decisions on behalf of communities remain directly accountable to the people they serve. READ MORE   Continue reading

Water services under new management: regional entities, iwi partnerships, and the end of local control. Across New Zealand, new water service entities are being established under the Government’s “Local Water Done Well” framework, marking a significant shift in how water services are owned, controlled, and politically overseen. Continue reading