Building Trust in Public Institutions
This interdisciplinary project is jointly run by the Policy Hub and the University of Auckland. It looks at the factors that affect trust in institutions and the steps that we should take to build that trust. The project is designed with a view to enhancing social cohesion and maintaining a healthy democracy.
14 short papers were commissioned considering this issue from different academic disciplines.
The papers were discussed at a series of seminars where the implications were considered for New Zealand's response to climate change and health, the use of Artificial Intelligence and the future of education.
Recordings of the discussions are available and a summary of this project to date can be found in the May Policy Hub newsletter.
We are currently in discussions with publishers around producing a book on this project.
Seminars
Trust in institutions and democracy in Aotearoa New Zealand – September 2024
This seminar focused on where we are and how can trust in our institutions and democracy be safeguarded and strengthened. In this session we heard from:
- Professor Margaret Hyland – Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington
- Professor Sir Ashley Bloomfield – The University of Auckland
- Dr Mona Krewel – Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington
- Dr Annie Te One – Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington
- Rebecca Kitteridge – Deputy Public Service Commissioner
- Colin Peacock - RNZ
You can watch the talks and panel discussion.
Trust and Climate change and education – February 2025
This seminar focused on what our understanding of trust means for climate change policies - how we engage with them, how people respond to them, and how we can implement them. It also considered the role of education in building trust. In this session we heard from:
- Professor Sir Ashley Bloomfield – The University of Auckland
- Associate Professor Stephen Hill – Massey University
- Natalia Albert Llorent - Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington (slides available)
- Professor Michael Macaulay – Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington
- Pam Booth – Landcare Research
- Stephanie Rowe – Deputy Chief Executive, Department for Conservation
- Associate Professor Patrick Barrett – The University of Waikato
- Associate Professor Val Hooper – Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington
- Jo Hendy – Chief Executive, Climate Commission
- Dr Bronwyn Wood – Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington
- Ben Laksana – Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington
- Professor Stuart McNaughton – The University of Auckland (slides available)
- Ruth Shinoda – Deputy Chief Executive, Education Review Office
- Emeritus Professor Jonathan Boston - Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington
- Dr Mona Krewel - Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington
You can watch the seminar.
AI and Health in relation to trust and institutions – April 2025
This seminar, chaired by Professor Sir Ashley Bloomfield and Emeritus Professor Ian Town, focused on the intersection of trust, artificial intelligence and health. In this session we heard from:
- Professor Rawinia Higgins – Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington (read her welcome and introduction)
- Professor Michael Macaulay – Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington
- Professor Jennifer Curtin – The University of Auckland (slides available)
- Associate Professor Matheson Russell – The University of Auckland
- Professor Ali Knott – Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington
- Amy Allison – Director Strategy, Digital Public Services, Department of Internal Affairs
- Associate Professor Rosie Dobson – The University of Auckland (slides available)
- Dr Pauline Herbst – The University of Auckland
- Dr Kevin Shedlock – Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington
- John Ryan – Controller and Auditor General (read his closing remarks)
You can watch the seminar.
