Public Engagement Projects (PEP) is a Wellington-based consultancy that works with the public and private sectors to improve organisational performance by building “architectures of listening”.
Its partners, John Pennington and Simon Wright, have a track record of innovative and internationally recognised projects. Their approach is based on findings from the social sciences, decision making, collaboration, public engagement and online participation as well as their experience.
The video and reports listed below have been selected to showcase their work.
Video
Reports and papers
A presentation by John Pennington for the Conference 4 Climate 2019
11 November 2019, James Cook Hotel, Wellington
This report is based on public engagement using Pol.is, an advanced survey tool designed for mass participation.
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Scoop & PEP (2018) Submission to Tax Working Group
A paper prepared for Members of Parliament on how deliberative democracy could be used to address the democratic deficit in New Zealand
PEP (2017). Tackling the Democratic Deficit: Deliberative Participation
Second nationwide policy-focused public dialogue by a government agency, which included New Zealand’s first online forum
Toi te Taiao: the Bioethics Council (2005). The cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of animal-to-human transplantation (xenotransplantation)
New Zealand’s first nationwide policy-focused public dialogue by a government agency
Toi te Taiao: the Bioethics Council (2004). The cultural, ethical and spiritual dimensions of the use of human genes in other organisms
New Zealand’s first nationwide policy-focused public deliberation: Information brochure for naming and framing workshops
Toi te Taiao: the Bioethics Council (2007). Pre-birth testing
New Zealand’s first nationwide policy-focused public deliberation: Choicebook that names and frames the issues for deliberation forums
Toi te Taiao: the Bioethics Council (2007). Who gets born? Pre-birth testing choicebook
A collaboration between the MacDiarmid Institute; the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology; the Ministry for the Environment; Toi te Taiao: the Bioethics Council; and the Royal Society to organise a deliberative workshop on nanotechnologies
Simon Brown et al (2009). Nanotechnology – Here and Now
New Zealand’s first nationwide policy-focused public deliberation: final report
Toi te Taiao: the Bioethics Council (2008). Who gets born? A report on the cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of pre-birth testing
A collaboration between PEP and Scoop Independent News to organise a media listening project on sugar policy using Polis, an advanced online survey tool that uses artificial intelligence to enable mass participation.
PEP (2017). No sugar coating: New Zealanders want stronger Government-led action on sugar
Toi te Taiao: the Bioethics Council
John and Simon gained a lot of their knowledge and experience about dialogue and deliberation while working in the secretariat of Toi te Taiao: the Bioethics Council, which was established in 2002 in response to a recommendation of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification. The Council was required to promote and participate in public dialogue about the cultural, ethical and spiritual issues raise by new form of biotechnology. For further information about Toi te Taiao: the Bioethics Council, click here to access its archived website. The Council was disestablished in 2009 against the wishes on an number of major organisations including the Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian and Methodist Churches.