The Facts About Binding Referendums
- How Binding Referendums Work
- 11 Point Referendum Objectives
- Endorsements
- Feature Articles
- University Studies
- FAQ
- About Us
Only 50,000 signatures needed to trigger referendum on Bradford Bill.
by Steve Baron
Over 250,000 signatures have been collected by Larry Baldock and his supporters to have a referendum on Sue Bradford's Anti Smacking Bill. The required number to trigger the referendum is approximately 300,000 which must be collected by 1st March. That's only 50,000 to go!
So what will 2008 bring?
by Steve Baron
Well my wish for the new year.... is to see what is on the Wanganui City Councils website on each and every City Council website
DIRECT DEMOCRACY SEMINAR-CANBERRA-28 JULY, 1994
THE CITIZENS'-INITIATED-REFERENDA-A QUEENSLAND PERSPECTIVE
by Russell Cooper - Former Queensland Premier
Mr Chairman, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you for your invitation here today.
A cynical observer might remark that the advocates of any form of direct democracy are almost invariably found among the ranks of those not in government and that their advocacy has little to do with giving the people a direct voice in determining major policy issues and a lot to do with attempting to nobble the government they oppose.
Time to listen to the voice of the people
by Bob Harvey - Waitakere Mayor (June 2006)
I have been exploring the concept and the pros and cons of referenda, or what some people call "direct democracy".
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. Non-binding referenda, what we currently have in New Zealand on national issues, are merely consultative or advisory, and the government may ignore them. A binding referendum requires the government to carry out the will of the people.
DIRECT DEMOCRACY COMES TO NEW ZEALAND
by Roger Monckton (June 2006)
Fullmarks have to go to new Wanganui Mayor, Michael Laws and the 6 new councillors from the "Vision Wanganui" team for literally, giving "power to the people". Laws and his team have initiated Direct Democracy in the Wanganui District Council and have ensured that Wanganui now leads the rest of the country in this enlightened decision making process.
PEOPLE POWER BOOK LAUNCHED AT LAST IN AUCKLAND
New Zealand turned an important historical corner as BCIR.org.nz launched our new book People Power on Friday 30th July 2004.
Almost 200 people attended. Some even came from as far away as Invercargill, Napier & Whangarei to be there. It was very humbling for me personally to see so many people there supporting real democracy for New Zealand.
An Open Letter To New Zealand
It’s our choice - REAL Democracy or an elected Dictatorship?
by Steve Baron
Are you one of the New Zealanders our politicians think aren’t intelligent or informed enough to make decisions on important issues that affect us all? Issues like GE, abortion, prostitution, tougher prison sentences, immigration, abolishing the Privy Council, euthanasia, smacking your children, extreme taxation, smoking or fishing quotas. We should all have a say on contentious issues like these, when we feel governments have lost touch with what the majority of New Zealanders want. Aren’t you tired of politicians forcing their own ideological political and moral beliefs on us without a mandate or majority support of voters?
Investigate Magazine Does In-depth BCIR Story
Although we can't reproduce it here we highly recommend you get a copy of the January 2004 issue of Investigate Magazine (Ian Wishart from Radio Pacific is the Editor). They have done an excellent and an in-depth eight page story on Steve Baron and the BCIR campaign. The magazine can be purchased from any good bookstore or from their website
Winston Peters / NZ First announcement
Replacing Political Tyranny With Direct Democracy
We are here today to debunk an old political myth in New Zealand and to explain how we are going to replace this myth with a new reality. The myth we refer to is that we live in a true democracy.
It’s a Civil decision!
by Steve Baron
The Civil Union Bill will soon be decided by yet another conscience vote in Parliament. In recent years there have been numerous conscience votes on issues like prostitution, abortion, lowering the drinking age and euthanasia. But how democratic is this and how democratic is the New Zealand political system, seriously?.....