Better Democracy
Encyclopedia
Better Democracy is a non-partisan lobby group in New Zealand
, formed with the objective of bringing about binding citizens initiated referendums as a form of direct democracy
(New Zealand has allowed for non-binding citizens initiated referendums since 1993). The group was founded by Steve Baron in 2003 and originally known as Voters' Voice.
Along with Jonathan Eisen, Steve Baron was editor of the book People Power: How to make the government listen to you, for a change. He also stood as an independent candidate in Pakuranga
in 2005, coming third which surprised many pundits.
The New Zealand First Party has since officially endorsed binding referendums, although it did not pursue the issue during its former confidence and supply agreement with Labour. The small Direct Democracy Party
also advocates for binding referendums as does Democrats for Social Credit. However, New Zealand First is no longer represented in Parliament, the Direct Democracy Party did not stand candidates in the New Zealand general election, 2008
, and Democrats for Social Credit are electorally insignificant.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, formed with the objective of bringing about binding citizens initiated referendums as a form of direct democracy
Direct democracy
Direct democracy is a form of government in which people vote on policy initiatives directly, as opposed to a representative democracy in which people vote for representatives who then vote on policy initiatives. Direct democracy is classically termed "pure democracy"...
(New Zealand has allowed for non-binding citizens initiated referendums since 1993). The group was founded by Steve Baron in 2003 and originally known as Voters' Voice.
Petition
Steve Baron applied to the Clerk of the House of Representatives in April 2003 for a petition under the Citizens Initiated Referenda Act 1993 for a referendum to make citizens initiated referendums binding on the government. 20,209 signatures were collected, well below the requirement of 10% of the voting population.Along with Jonathan Eisen, Steve Baron was editor of the book People Power: How to make the government listen to you, for a change. He also stood as an independent candidate in Pakuranga
Pakuranga (New Zealand electorate)
rightPakuranga is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate.It is currently held by Maurice Williamson MP, a member of the National Party.-Population centres:Pakuranga is one of sixty-three general electorates used in New Zealand general elections...
in 2005, coming third which surprised many pundits.
The New Zealand First Party has since officially endorsed binding referendums, although it did not pursue the issue during its former confidence and supply agreement with Labour. The small Direct Democracy Party
Direct Democracy Party of New Zealand
The Direct Democracy Party of New Zealand was a political party in New Zealand that promoted greater participation by the people in the decision-making of government. The party's leader was Kelvyn Alp....
also advocates for binding referendums as does Democrats for Social Credit. However, New Zealand First is no longer represented in Parliament, the Direct Democracy Party did not stand candidates in the New Zealand general election, 2008
New Zealand general election, 2008
The 2008 New Zealand general election was held on 8 November 2008 to determine the composition of the 49th New Zealand parliament. The conservative National Party, headed by its Parliamentary leader John Key, won a plurality of votes and seats, ending 9 years of government dominated by the social...
, and Democrats for Social Credit are electorally insignificant.
Prominent supporters
The group's website lists a number of prominent supporters:- Christine FletcherChristine FletcherChristine Fletcher, QSO is an Auckland Council councillor and also prominent for her former New Zealand politics positions, both in Parliament and as Mayor of Auckland City. She was the second woman to serve as mayor of Auckland...
, former Mayor of AucklandMayor of AucklandThe Mayor of Auckland is the directly elected head of the Auckland Council, the local government authority for the Auckland region in New Zealand...
and former MP - Roger KerrRoger KerrRoger Lawrence Kerr, CNZM , a public policy and business leader, was the executive director of the New Zealand Business Roundtable, a free-market think-tank based in Wellington, New Zealand.-Career:...
, Chairman of the New Zealand Business RoundtableNew Zealand Business RoundtableThe New Zealand Business Roundtable , a market-oriented thinktank, operates from Wellington, New Zealand. Businessman Robert McLeod chairs the organisation, with Bill Gallagher MBE, Nick Calavrias and Bill Day as Vice-Chairs. Members, who pay a five-figure subscription fee, represent most of the... - David LangeDavid LangeDavid Russell Lange, ONZ, CH , served as the 32nd Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1984 to 1989. He headed New Zealand's fourth Labour Government, one of the most reforming administrations in his country's history, but one which did not always conform to traditional expectations of a...
, deceased Prime Minister of New ZealandPrime Minister of New ZealandThe Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand... - Michael LawsMichael LawsMichael Laws is a New Zealand politician, broadcaster and writer/columnist. He served two terms as a Member of the New Zealand Parliament, representing the National Party and New Zealand First . He was elected as Mayor of Wanganui in 2004, was re-elected in 2007 but announced his retirement from...
, Mayor of WanganuiMayor of WanganuiThe Mayor of Wanganui is the head of the Whanganui District Council. Annette Main is the current mayor.-History:Prior to 1989, when Wanganui's city charter was cancelled, the Mayor was the head of the Wanganui City Council...
, former MP and talkback host - Garth McVicar, Chairman of the Sensible Sentencing TrustSensible Sentencing TrustThe Sensible Sentencing Trust, a lobby group based in Napier in New Zealand, promotes harsher court sentences as a means of reducing crime.The Trust states its vision as "A Safe New Zealand" and its mission as "o obtain a large base of community support, and ensure safety for all New Zealanders...
- Winston PetersWinston PetersWinston Raymond Peters is a New Zealand politician and leader of New Zealand First, a political party he founded in 1993. Peters has had a turbulent political career since entering Parliament in 1978. He served as Minister of Maori Affairs in the Bolger National Party Government before being...
, leader of the New Zealand First Party (no longer represented in the New Zealand Parliament) - Graham Stairmand, President of the Grey Power FederationGrey Power (New Zealand)Grey Power is a New Zealand based lobby group formed to promote the interests of people over the age of 50.- History :Grey Power was formed around 1988 by superannuitants protesting against the New Zealand Government's proposed plan to apply a surcharge on the New Zealand pension...
- Ian WishartIan WishartIan Wishart is a New Zealand journalist, author, an opponent to the hypothesis of anthropogenic climate change, and the editor of Investigate magazine...
, editor of InvestigateInvestigate (New Zealand)Investigate is a current affairs magazine published in New Zealand. It has a conservative Christian editorial standpoint and has published a number of controversial articles. Many of the more notable articles have been critical of policies and members of the centre-left Fifth Labour Government of...
magazine