Trust and cohesion of NZ society in peril, says Sir Peter Gluckman and others

Trust and cohesion of NZ society in peril, says Sir Peter Gluckman and others
Police clearing parliament grounds of protesters and tents. (Image: NZME)
Greg Hurrell
The 2022 occupation of parliament grounds was a symptom of a wider breakdown of trust and social cohesion, according to a report co-authored by one of New Zealand’s foremost scientists. While it blamed global trends in social media for growing social discontent, it also pointed to signs of decay in NZ’s democratic institutions. Peter Gluckman, president of the Paris-based International Science Council, was one of the seven authors of “Addressing the challenges to social cohesion” from Koi Tū: The Centre for Inf...

More Policy

Govt proposes major council overhaul
Policy

Govt proposes major council overhaul

Regional councillors to be deposed, mayors empowered, and amalgamation put on the table.

Thomas Manch 25 Nov 2025
FIF tax creator says ‘sorry’, but wants deeper reform
Policy

FIF tax creator says ‘sorry’, but wants deeper reform

Economist Peter Wilson says the Government's FIF changes need to go further.

Dileepa Fonseka 25 Nov 2025
Treasury strategist: NZ needs to tax capital income
Policy

Treasury strategist: NZ needs to tax capital income

Struan Little says it’s not a question of whether we should tax capital, but how.

Dileepa Fonseka 21 Nov 2025
The back-to-front ferry deal
Opinion

Pattrick Smellie: The back-to-front ferry deal

Will the wharves be ready when the new ferries arrive?

Pattrick Smellie 20 Nov 2025