See more posted on the Democracy Action Facebook page
The Deep State
Dr Muriel Newman comments on the agenda to advance Maori supremacy instead of democracy, advising that to strengthen our democratic system and restore equal rights, we must follow other OECD countries and remove race and ethnicity from the government sector. READ MORE
Steven Gaskell: Classroom or Chapel?
Steven Gaskell comments that the Government’s decision to remove the Treaty clause from school boards is a victory for democracy and for restoring common sense to education. "Parents and volunteers join school boards to help kids learn, not to interpret 1840 documents or preach ideology". READ MORE
Geoff Parker: Kiwis need to be more forthright - Silence is Surrender
Geoff Parker urges New Zealanders to rediscover the courage to speak openly. "We must insist that all public authority — Parliament, local government, the courts, and every ministry — serves the entire public, equally and without favour. New Zealand cannot function as a modern democracy if political rights depend on who your ancestors were." READ MORE
David Round: Thoughts for our Time
Constitutional and Treaty expert, David Round, comments on reports sent to the UN rapporteur from the Aotearoa Centre for Indigenous Peoples and the Law, the Maori Law Society, and our Human Rights Commission, writing that "the agenda of these three ‘reports’ is racist, stupid and destructive, and part of a grand project to dismantle our country and its worthy democratic values". READ MORE
Water Rights Should Belong To All New Zealanders — Not A Select Few
Geoff Parker argues that we all want clean rivers and fair access to water. But control of water allocation must remain in the hands of accountable, democratic institutions — not private tribal bodies with vested interests. READ MORE
Thin Wedge of Reform: Why Independent MPs May Save New Zealand’s Democracy from Its Party Captors
Zoran Rakovic argues that political parties undermine true democracy in NZ and promotes independent MPs as a reformative force under MMP. READ MORE
Masterton puts transparency first, other councils must follow
The New Zealand Taxpayers' Union is praising the Masterton District Council for following the Ombudsman’s advice and opening council workshops to the public and live-streaming these sessions online. TU spokesman James Ross said:
“The days of closed-door meetings excluding ratepayers from key debates and decisions should be over. Transparency is key to democratically accountable local government and rebuilding trust with the community.” READ MORE