The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet convened a multi-stakeholder group in July 2023 to provide practical advice from outside government on how to understand and respond to disinformation in Aotearoa New Zealand. Their report was delivered to DPMC in March 2024.
The group’s recommendations look towards a goal of:
“…ensuring that within New Zealand, people can agree and disagree in good faith working off a mostly shared set of facts, and that when disputes occur…they are possible to resolve with reference to trustworthy evidence.”
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has considered each recommendation. You can read the report and DPMC's response at the link below:
Multi-Stakeholder Group's Report and DPMC response
The Department thanks the Multi-Stakeholder Group’s co-chairs and members for their careful and thoughtful work to advance public discussion on disinformation, and on broader changes in New Zealand’s information environment. Their report is now available as a resource for all New Zealanders.
The group’s members were:
- Andrew Cushen (co-chair) is a consultant with experience in strategy, policy, and public affairs.
- Robyn Kamira (Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri, Tai Tokerau whānui) (co-chair) is the founder of technology consultancy Pāua Interface Ltd.
- Brent Carey (Te Āti Awa) is the Chief Executive Officer of Netsafe.
- Dr Mona Krewel is the Director of the Internet, Social Media, and Politics Research Lab, and a Senior Lecturer in the School of History, Philosophy, Political Science and International Relations at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington.
- Vivien Maidaborn is the Chief Executive Officer of Internet New Zealand Ipurangi Aotearoa.*
- Jeremy Rees is an Executive Editor at Radio New Zealand.
- Paul Rishworth KC is a barrister at Britomart Chambers, specialising in human rights law.
- Dr Chris Wilson is the Director of Hate and Extremism Insights Aotearoa**, and a Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland.
*InternetNZ Ipurangi Aotearoa partnered with DPMC to deliver a one-off fund to catalyse and support community-based initiatives that build resilience against the harms of disinformation.
**Hate and Extremism Insights Aotearoa was commissioned by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to research and analyse themes and trends in disinformation in New Zealand.