In Porirua, democracy's innovators deliver on their promises

A novel Treaty-based citizens' assembly has shown what the community wants

Several months ago, the Good IDEAs Bulletin previewed an exciting democratic innovation: a citizens’ assembly process, adapted for the context of the Treaty of Waitangi / Te Tiriti o Waitangi, on tackling climate change in Porirua. Now that the assembly has wrapped up, one of its co-organisers, Peter Glensor from Te Reo ō Nga Tangata / The People Speak, reflects on what it achieved, what it recommended – and where to next.

A powerful demonstration of localised deliberative democracy

Image credit: Ngāti Toa Rangatira

Our Porirua Assembly on Climate held its fourth and final day of meetings in late March. A series of recommendations was produced – and, at an evening event held in mid-April, community leaders and others heard about this world-first Te Tiriti-based event.

We are delighted with how the assembly powerfully demonstrated the vision of both deliberative democracy and the promises of Te Tiriti. Towards the end of the process, the two constituent groups – Whole of Community and Mana Whenua – came together and worked on combining their findings, so that the Porirua assembly could speak with one voice. People in both groups spoke warmly about how easily they could work together, share their perspectives, and come to a common mind for the good of Porirua.

The recommendations that resulted

The introduction of the recommendations is a stirring affirmation that “the mauri of Porirua is thriving”, and that “we of Porirua are part of a living ecosystem”. There are six groupings of recommendations: rangatahi (youth), te taiao (our environment), approach and implementation, resilient people networks, action through education and awareness, and resilient infrastructure.