How to Save Democracy in Aotearoa New Zealand

by Geoffrey Palmer

In this timely and provocative book, Sir Geoffrey Palmer draws on his experience as former Prime Minister, Minister of Justice, and Attorney-General to get people thinking about the state of New Zealand’s democracy. Palmer offers rare insights into the machinery of power and its vulnerabilities, and rather than surrendering to pessimism, he presents a roadmap for renewal.

At a time when authoritarianism rises globally and the rule of law faces unprecedented threats, Palmer’s message is clear: ordinary citizens hold the key to democratic revitalisation through civic engagement and vigilance. This collection of thoughtful essays challenges readers to reclaim their role in governance. Palmer argues that regardless of which parties hold power, without public awareness and participation, democratic institutions will continue to weaken.

For anyone concerned about New Zealand’s future and the global retreat of democratic values, this book offers both warning and inspiration – a call to action from one of the nation’s most distinguished constitutional minds.

312 pages, Paperback

Published September 11, 2025

About the author

Rt Hon Sir Geoffrey Palmer KC is a Distinguished Fellow at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, Faculty of Law, and a Global affiliated professor at the University of Iowa, College of Law. In Parliament he held the offices of Attorney-General, Minister of Justice, Leader of the House, Minister for the Environment, Deputy Prime Minister and Prime Minister. Since leaving politics in 1990 he has been a foundation partner of a law firm, President of the Law Commission, chair of the Legislation Design Committee (2006–2008), New Zealand’s Commissioner to the International Whaling Commission, and chair of the Panel of Inquiry on the 31 May 2010 Flotilla Incident for the United Nations in New York, amongst many other distinguished appointments.

Reviews

[Elliott Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much cheaper than laws 213

[Sebastian · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a lay reader, this was a bit of a slog, but the ideas it contains are well-considered and important. Fair warning that it is comprised mostly of previously published material (much of it originally appearing in legal journals), so not every essay addresses activities of the current coalition government or democratic backsliding internationally in recent years. I do appreciate Palmer's perspective on and experience with constitutional law in multiple countries (the UK, the U.S., Australia, and Canada), for if such basal issues are ever discussed, they are all too often considered in a vacuum, without recourse to lessons learned from other countries' experiments in democracy. I was dismayed to learn how much of a kluge the New Zealand system of government really is, but I suppose the bright side is that the hurdle of reforming it is all the lower, in contrast to my home country's once sacrosanct and nearly immutable constitution written two centuries before my birth, seldom amended and now within the past year largely ignored by the current regime.

[Andrew Ritchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of essays covers interesting positions on a number of current and relevant constitutional issues.

Palmer's central premise for writing the book is a belief that New Zealanders largely have a lower than desired knowledge of the parliamentary process and how law is made making it hard for them to fully participate in our democratic system.

Wheras I would agree with Palmer that increased education in civics would be a good thing, unfortunately I would suggest that this book is written from a position where a good knowledge of these proceedures is already required. There is a lot of quoting of acts of law and reference to statutes that makes the book a bit of a slog for a lay reader, even one who has a good interest in the political system.

It is an interesting book about our current and potential future democratic system but the level of academic writing makes it a hard read.