Democracy Reform New Zealand is built on a foundation of transparent, publicly available governing documents. We believe every member and every New Zealander should be able to read the rules that guide our party.

Constitution

Our Constitution (Version 4.3, dated 21 May 2026) is the governing document of Democracy Reform New Zealand Incorporated. It has been prepared in full compliance with the Incorporated Societies Act 2022 and the Electoral Act 1993.

The Constitution sets out our purpose, membership rules, how decisions are made, officer roles, financial management, and how amendments work. Key provisions include:

  • A minimum of 10 members for the society to operate
  • A Board of up to 8 officers including President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Party Leader, Deputy Leader, and two Regional Representatives
  • Transparent financial reporting in accordance with External Reporting Board (XRB) standards
  • Amendment by two-thirds majority at a General Meeting or unanimous Board resolution
  • No borrowing — the party funds its activities from membership fees and donations only

Download: Constitution PDF coming soon — check back shortly.

Blueprint for Democratic Renovation

The Blueprint for Democratic Renovation is our comprehensive policy platform. It sets out the evidence-based case for reforming New Zealand’s democratic institutions and proposes specific, practical changes across areas including:

  • Electoral reform and proportional representation improvements
  • Citizens’ assemblies and deliberative democracy
  • Government transparency and open data
  • Constitutional development, including a written constitution and Bill of Rights reform
  • Innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic democracy
  • Youth engagement and civic education

The Blueprint draws on over 80 academic and policy sources from New Zealand and international research. It is a living document, updated as new evidence and community input are received.

Constitution Compliance Review

Before submitting our Constitution for incorporation, we conducted a thorough section-by-section review against the requirements of section 26 of the Incorporated Societies Act 2022. The review identified nine areas for improvement, all of which were addressed in the current version of the Constitution.

This level of diligence reflects our commitment to doing things properly from the start — the same standard we would bring to governing.

All founding documents are public records. If you have questions about any of them, please get in touch.