I also think it's worth keeping a close watch on the IOD. This is an old boys club which plants compliant directors in numerous boards, particularly in Central and Local Government positions. I joined this organization for a year and resigned as I found it just a sausage factory with "this is the way you should think" type advocacy.
Aotearoa-NZ is fortunate to have such a good "bad cop" on the job. We need compulsory civics education in high school, so every young citizen is schooled in the concept of Undue Influence in the personal and political fields, especially in the parliamentary arena. BTW, do we not need an anti-corruption commission in collaboration with Australia's: https://www.nacc.gov.au/ ?
I’m not seeing any of the unelected “community” groups that are staffed by activists, that claim to speak for various “communities”, and are partly funded by Govt, and are invited by officials to “consultations” about various Govt initiatives and policies. This includes “targeted consultation” that is done behind closed doors.
I'm certainly adding "community groups" to the register, and you should see some there already. And, yes, I'm aware of the existence of some "quango" state-funded groups that have dubious roles, so I'm open to what you are suggesting, but you are going to have to make some actual suggestions about which groups should be added (and why).
The Aussie ABC has just done an exposé on the junk tank connected with the NZ Initiative, Taxpayers Union & Free Speech Union, where NZ media has largely been MIA:
Perhaps not quite the augean stables but to those of us who live well away from Wellington and are completely unconnected with politics and power it sometimes looks close. May your shovels stay keen.
Congratulations on this initiative at a time when many people are shrugging their shoulders and struggling with the demands of daily life. Social cohesion and trust are vital to a healthy democracy and this is being corroded by vested interests and a perception that NZ democracy serves first and foremost those with a loud voice. I look forward to scanning the register.
Many thanks for this brilliant initiative! We are long overdue for a bad cop to call out covered up behaviour ranging from a wee bit shonkey, to maybe even criminal. The judge was correct, sunlight is a superb disinfectant. But he should have added... to really clean matters up, you require a magnifying glass. Recall your schooldays, reducing bits of paper to charcoal?
At last Bryce. Thanks. Many of us feel very much in the dark. Now these hidden industry players will be brought into the light.
Carbolic strength please Bryce.
I also think it's worth keeping a close watch on the IOD. This is an old boys club which plants compliant directors in numerous boards, particularly in Central and Local Government positions. I joined this organization for a year and resigned as I found it just a sausage factory with "this is the way you should think" type advocacy.
Aotearoa-NZ is fortunate to have such a good "bad cop" on the job. We need compulsory civics education in high school, so every young citizen is schooled in the concept of Undue Influence in the personal and political fields, especially in the parliamentary arena. BTW, do we not need an anti-corruption commission in collaboration with Australia's: https://www.nacc.gov.au/ ?
Absolutely brilliant, well done for putting this together
I’m not seeing any of the unelected “community” groups that are staffed by activists, that claim to speak for various “communities”, and are partly funded by Govt, and are invited by officials to “consultations” about various Govt initiatives and policies. This includes “targeted consultation” that is done behind closed doors.
I'm certainly adding "community groups" to the register, and you should see some there already. And, yes, I'm aware of the existence of some "quango" state-funded groups that have dubious roles, so I'm open to what you are suggesting, but you are going to have to make some actual suggestions about which groups should be added (and why).
I will write it up & get some help too, & send to you.
The Aussie ABC has just done an exposé on the junk tank connected with the NZ Initiative, Taxpayers Union & Free Speech Union, where NZ media has largely been MIA:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-24/atlas-network-think-tanks-active-in-australia-and-new-zealand/104788732
“Regulating Wormtongue” good idea!
In connection to the Retirement Villages Assoc I’ve written this today: https://open.substack.com/pub/informedheart/p/savings-retirement-villages-and-the?r=q9aq0&utm_medium=ios
https://www.cofr.govt.nz/
Perhaps not quite the augean stables but to those of us who live well away from Wellington and are completely unconnected with politics and power it sometimes looks close. May your shovels stay keen.
Congratulations on this initiative at a time when many people are shrugging their shoulders and struggling with the demands of daily life. Social cohesion and trust are vital to a healthy democracy and this is being corroded by vested interests and a perception that NZ democracy serves first and foremost those with a loud voice. I look forward to scanning the register.
Well done Bryce. I'm actually at the "good cop" launch as I write this and, as you've identified, this pincer approach is exactly what we need.
Many thanks for this brilliant initiative! We are long overdue for a bad cop to call out covered up behaviour ranging from a wee bit shonkey, to maybe even criminal. The judge was correct, sunlight is a superb disinfectant. But he should have added... to really clean matters up, you require a magnifying glass. Recall your schooldays, reducing bits of paper to charcoal?