Policy Quarterly

The Rise, Fall and Re-Rise Of Deliberative Democracy In New Zealand

2024-05-06T02:51:12+00:00

In New Zealand the last few years have seen a re-emergence of interest in processes that build on the theory of deliberative democracy. Commentary on this trend, which typically positions deliberative democracy as a novel development in New Zealand politics, ignores several decades of public agencies’ democratic experimentation. In this article we describe three of the 15 identified processes displaying the critical elements of deliberative democracy: the Capital Power citizens’ jury (1996); Toi te Taiao: the Bioethics Council’s public deliberation on pre-birth testing (2007–08), and the citizens’ advisory panel on the Newtown–Berhampore cycleway (2014). We analyse the reasons for their ostensible failure and identify lessons that current policymakers interested in deliberative democracy should draw from these historical cases.

Can We Have the Population Statistics We Need Without a Regular Census?

2024-05-07T08:17:43+00:00

As the New Zealand government is progressing plans for substituting the census as we know it for information held in state agency records, the huge gap between what we need population statistics for, and the scope and quality of existing statistics stays under the radar. The scale and volatility of migration, the impact of increased longevity and the different demographic dynamics of fast-growing ethnic communities must be continually measured in ways we can trust. Confidence that the statistical qualities of the census would be replicated requires transparency, validation and independent peer review if trust is to be maintained.

Towards a Regionally Responsive Network implementation challenges in New Zealand’s reforms to vocational education

2024-05-06T02:59:41+00:00

New Zealand has been undertaking major reform of its vocational education sector since 2019. Changes have been extensive, including the establishment of a national delivery body (Te Pūkenga), and the formation of workforce development councils, regional skills leadership groups, centres of vocational excellence, and a coalition of expert Māori advisors (Te Taumata Aronui). While a new government is reconsidering these structures, including stating a commitment to disestablish Te Pūkenga, it is timely to explore the key policy issues facing the vocational education sector. Accordingly, this case study considers how best to balance local and national interests. We suggest changes to ensure that the sector is well structured, governed and funded, and meets the needs of the communities it serves.

Addressing the Colonial Legacies of Science

2024-05-07T03:35:34+00:00

Science needs to address its colonial legacies. While the Te Ara Paerangi Future Pathways envisioned reforms of the research, science and innovation system has lost momentum, individuals and organisations across Aotearoa recognise, and are reaffirming, that the country’s future prospects lie in embracing Tiriti-led policies and practices. In 2021 Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research (a Crown research institute mandated to ensure that the life force and vitality of the land is strong) committed to weaving the principles of te Tiriti o Waitangi into its fabric. As employees, we use social practice theory in this article to evaluate the changes our organisation is experiencing on its journey to being Tiriti-led, and assess the lessons, impacts, successes and failures. This case study highlights the values–action gaps currently evident across the science system and provides insights into the various elements required to enable transformative change and new social norms within knowledge production policies and practice.

Will Migrant Pacific Workers Be a Part of Aotearoa New Zealand’s Farming Futures? A call to design future agritech industry transformation plans with a reciprocal framework

2024-05-06T02:18:40+00:00

In 2020 and 2023 the New Zealand government depicted a vision for technology-enhanced farming futures in the Agritech Industry Transformation Plan. However, the plan overlooks the critical role of seasonal, migrant Pacific workers in sustaining Aotearoa New Zealand’s horticulture industry. It also contains little practical planning for what a transition from a largely human to a largely robotic workforce should entail. We show how these omissions reflect an extractive framework which threatens workers’ wellbeing and the sustainability of Aotearoa New Zealand’s horticulture industry. We provide recommendations for how future agritech industry plans can consciously adopt a more sustainable reciprocal framework.

Regulating the Digital Environment to Protect Users from Harmful Commodity Marketing

2024-05-07T08:02:50+00:00

Although the creators of the world wide web never intended it to be regulated by state intervention, the rapid evolution of the online environment has necessitated regulation of certain aspects of the digital ecosystem. Harmful commodity marketing (e.g., alcohol, vaping and unhealthy food and beverage product marketing) on social media and in digital spaces has been linked to adverse health outcomes and there have been calls for its regulation. In this commentary we explain why this is important and consider how such regulation could be achieved.

Wage Policy and Justice in Aotearoa New Zealand

2024-05-07T03:59:01+00:00

We analysed the responses of 995 Year 13 students from across Aotearoa New Zealand regarding the payment of minimum and living wages. In analysing their Likert scale ratings and written responses, we found the majority of these young adults to be clearly in favour of the living wage being adopted universally. Their justifications for this stance centred around themes of survival, justice, wellbeing, economic balance and reciprocity. We assert that the voices of rangatahi have been missing in the consecutive government reviews of the minimum wage, and that listening to these voices will enhance policymaking in this area.

An Experiment in Governmental Futures Thinking: long-term insights briefings

2024-05-07T08:24:03+00:00

New Zealand’s Public Service Act 2020 requires departmental chief executives to give a long-term insights briefing (LTIB) to their respective ministers at least once every three years. The LTIBs must provide ‘information about medium- and long-term trends, risks, and opportunities that affect or may affect New Zealand’, along with ‘information and impartial analysis, including policy options’ to address the matters raised. The first suite of LTIBs were prepared during 2022–23. This article assesses the first round of LTIBs, giving particular attention to how they identified future risks and opportunities and the extent to which they adopted robust foresight techniques. Based on this analysis, we suggest how the process for preparing future LTIBs might be improved.