Trust in democracy is in decline in NZ. Could citizens’ assemblies help restore it?
Citizens’ assemblies are emerging as a response to sinking trust in government. They bring ordinary people into policy decisions earlier, and on more equal terms.
New Zealanders, particularly younger generations, are increasingly feeling disenfranchised during the election campaign, leading to a lack of trust in government decisions. This distrust poses risks to social cohesion and democratic legitimacy. However, some councils have already begun implementing deliberative democracy, which involves involving citizens more directly in policy-making through citizens' assemblies.
Political trust in New Zealand has declined since 2021, falling below the global average in the latest Acumen Edelman Trust Barometer. Only 44% of New Zealanders feel they have a say in government actions, and the trust gap between those who feel included and those who don't is widening. A lack of regulatory oversight for lobbying, no transparency, and the perception that decisions are not in the public interest all contribute to the erosion of trust.
Deliberative democracy offers a potential solution by allowing ordinary citizens to contribute thoughtful input to complex policy decisions when provided with reliable information and opportunities to engage. Citizens' assemblies, composed of randomly selected individuals reflecting the population, aim to create more equal participation and deliberative processes.
New Zealand has already experimented with this approach, such as in Auckland's water supply citizens' assembly, where participants recommended purified recycled wastewater. Meanwhile, digital tools like Pol.is are being used to broaden engagement beyond face-to-face assemblies. Feedback from recent symposiums suggests many New Zealanders care about various societal challenges but feel unheard in the current system.
By improving transparency and expanding participation through deliberative processes, trust in democracy may be restored.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
