Trust in government, and faith in democracy, has been falling all around the world. Although the trend is not as dire in New Zealand as elsewhere, there are still large numbers of Kiwis who feel that our political system no longer works for them.

This poses a growing threat to our democracy, our ability to come together as a society, and the future of our country. Fortunately, we know these problems have solutions, most of which involve bringing politics closer to the people and involving citizens more deeply in decision-making. In other words before governments can expect citizens to trust them, they must demonstrate that they trust their citizens.

Max Rashbrooke is a Wellington-based writer and intellectual, with twin interests in economic inequality and democratic renewal. An adjunct research associate in Victoria University’s School of Government, he has published several books, pens a fortnightly column for both The Post and The Spinoff, writes for international outlets including the Guardian, and is a frequent commentator in the New Zealand media. He has recently helped launch IDEA, the Institute for Democratic and Economic Analysis, a new public policy think-tank. His TED.com talk on upgrading democracy has been viewed 1.5m times.