Open Policy NZ

@openpolicynz
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Andrew Ecclestone. I think and know about freedom of information and open government.
On twitter: @openpolicynz
Webhttps://proactivelyopen.org

More Referenda, Better Democracy?

With New Zealanders likely to vote on extending the parliamentary term at the 2026 general election, join us at our AGM for a discussion about referenda and options for strengthening the public’s democratic voice.

Register now to hear from Associate Professor Matheson Russell, and discuss the pros and cons of referenda.

https://trustdemocracy.nz/2025/03/notice-of-2025-agm-featuring-matheson-russell/

Notice of 2025 AGM featuring Matheson Russell - Trust Democracy NZ

Trust Democracy is pleased to announce that its 2025 Annual General Meeting will held on Monday 12 May at St Andrew’s on The Terrace, 30 The Terrace, Wellington, and via Zoom, and will feature an address by Associate Professor Matheson Russell on the topic 'More Referenda, Better Democracy?'

Trust Democracy NZ
@Kay just read @civillibertynz on the RSB proposal. Outstanding!
https://nzccl.org.nz/submission-consultation-on-proposed-regulatory-standards-bill/
I particularly enjoyed these bits of the conclusion:
"...seeking to protect the ‘liberties’ of companies, it will result in poor quality law making that undermines people’s rights in order to benefit the wealthy... the proposed Regulatory Standards Board is a glaring nexus for corruption and lobbying by vested interests. The proposals are fundamentally undemocratic and should not be taken any further." 🔥
Submission: Consultation on proposed Regulatory Standards Bill

The government is proposing to introduce a Regulatory Standards Bill, which would define principles of liberty and property against which all other legislation would be tested. The Council is opposed to the proposals, and believes they seek to make the 'liberties' and property rights of co

NZ Council for Civil Liberties

The Council is opposed to the proposals for a Regulatory Standards Bill, as they seek to make the 'liberties' and property rights of companies as important as people's human rights.

Read our response to the consultation here: https://nzccl.org.nz/submission-consultation-on-proposed-regulatory-standards-bill/

Submission: Consultation on proposed Regulatory Standards Bill

The government is proposing to introduce a Regulatory Standards Bill, which would define principles of liberty and property against which all other legislation would be tested. The Council is opposed to the proposals, and believes they seek to make the 'liberties' and property rights of co

NZ Council for Civil Liberties
@aimee @ensslen @civillibertynz None, no times. NZ has only received one letter for ‘acting contrary to process’ when it took an extra year to develop NAP4, between 2020 and 2022. But civil society called for this delay given the difficulties caused by the pandemic. And ‘acting contrary to process’ is a long way from being threatened with expulsion.

@Br3nda many post boxes have been removed by NZ Post - self-fulfilling prophecy about a decline in letter mail perhaps.

Post shops now mostly hosted in other retail facilities will accept the letter for collection in my experience. J’ville still has a NZ Post Shop because no business in the mall wanted to take over apparently.

Every time I do tech support for my family I get very angry about people who whine about lacking "tech literacy".

90% of the stuff I have to teach them is how to navigate manipulative software and dark patterns. This has nothing to do with tech, but with capitalism. Tech is not complicated, it is just made maximally confusing on purpose to remove agency.

Better tech ed won't fix this.

The Council responded to a Ministry of Justice consultation on secrecy clauses that override the Official Information Act.

We concluded the consultation was wholly unfit. It will not lead to stronger testing of claims for secrecy, as it sets out no standards. #OGP

https://nzccl.org.nz/secrecy-clauses-that-override-the-official-information-act/

Secrecy clauses that override the Official Information Act

The Council responded to a Ministry of Justice consultation on secrecy clauses that override the Official Information Act. We concluded the consultation was wholly unfit. It will not lead to stronger testing of claims for secrecy, as it sets out no standards.

NZ Council for Civil Liberties
@MxdernFxlkDeviL @civillibertynz We’re not losing Newsroom. Newshub is the one that’s being shut down.

The Council has responded to a consultation by the Ministry of Justice on the draft of a voluntary Code of Conduct for lobbyists.

We're concerned by the broad definition of 'lobbyist' and how weak the draft Code is following industry lobbying.

https://nzccl.org.nz/submission-on-the-draft-voluntary-code-of-conduct-for-lobbyists/

Submission on the Draft Voluntary Code of Conduct for lobbyists

The Council's response to a consultation by the Ministry of Justice on the draft of a voluntary Code of Conduct for lobbyists. We're concerned by the definition of 'lobbyist' and how weak the draft Code is.

NZ Council for Civil Liberties
@sburall Don’t beat yourself up. Rest.