Source: WEAll Aotearoa New Zealand
On Wednesday 17 September, Tomorrow Together, an initiative of WEAll Aotearoa, is unveiling a national discussion document at Parliament, asking Kiwis how our country can get better at long-term decision-making, to ensure fairness for future generations.
Hosted by the youngest Members of Parliament across the political spectrum (National, Labour, Te Pāti Māori, and the Greens), the forum will also feature reflections from former Prime Ministers Jim Bolger and Sir Geoffrey Palmer, who are urging bold, cross-party dialogue and action.
“Everyone knows Aotearoa has been bad at thinking long-term,” says Gareth Hughes, Director of WEAll Aotearoa. “You can see it in our infrastructure, the environment, and policy flip-flops.”
“We are highlighting practical policies that can address our challenges and move us beyond the type of short-term politics that enable poor decisions,” adds Hughes.
One of the flagship proposals in the discussion document is a Future Generations Act, a piece of legislation that could embed long-term thinking and intergenerational fairness into all public decision-making.
Similar models are already gaining traction internationally, including in Wales, Scotland, Australia, and through initiatives led by the UN and EU.
“Too often, it feels like our leaders make decisions without considering the interests of my generation, and those following. But it is within our power to change this. We can refuse to accept a future marked by decline,” says Sophie Handford, Future Generations Lead at WEAll Aotearoa.
Sophie adds, “It’s time we made a conscious choice as a country, to be guided by a deep sense of responsibility to current and future generations and to put the wellbeing of our mokopuna and te taiao at the heart of our decision-making processes.”
“It’s time for a serious and collaborative national conversation about how we make decisions that serve an ideal long-term vision for Aotearoa, not just short-term interests.”
About the Discussion Document
The event and discussion document aim to spark public engagement and political collaboration around policies that prioritise wellbeing over the long-term. It poses eight key questions to help collectively determine which policy levers are best for Aotearoa to use.
About WEAll Aotearoa
WEAll Aotearoa is a non-partisan and independent ‘think and do’ tank working to redesign Aotearoa New Zealand’s economy around the wellbeing of our people and te taiao. We use an evidence-informed approach and focus upstream to develop practical, long-term solutions for the public good.
