First for the bad news. Representative democracy is not in good shape and the signs for improvement are not bright. After 200 years it is on the ropes due to a laundry sized list of ailments: falling rates of voter turn-out, especially amongst the young; shrinking party membership; the low esteem and suspicion politicians are…

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Have you heard anything about renewing the state of NZ’s democracy, even whispers, from the new Government? How about from other organisations? I’ve been listening but, despite worrying trends in voter turnout, trust and confidence, haven’t heard much at all. ‘Listening is an instrument of power’ [1], so you know something is up when the…

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