Local democracy in New Zealand is facing a troubling imbalance: mostly part-time councillors must process complex information prepared by full-time professional staff, often receiving hundreds of pages just days before critical votes. Could AI help rebalance this information asymmetry and strengthen democratic oversight?
Join Nick Clark, author of the new research note "Smart support for Councillors: AI tools for local leaders", for this webinar launching the report. It will include an overview of the key challenges AI could help address, international examples of AI in local government, and recommendations for realising the benefits of AI for elected representatives while managing risks. Along with Nick, we will be hearing from Wellington City Councillor, Tim Brown on how these tools can improve the workload of councillors.
Date: Thursday, 12 June 2025
Time: 3:00pm
Please register for the webinar via this link. Also, submit your question in advance on Slido.com using code #3762639
Nick Clark, Senior Fellow, The New Zealand Initiative
Nick is a Senior Fellow focusing on local government, resource management, and economic policy. He brings 30 years of policy experience, including 19 years at Federated Farmers as National Policy Manager. There, he led work on economic, fiscal, monetary, banking, competition, and overseas investment policies, and engaged extensively with local government policy issues.
Tim Brown, Councillor, Wellington City Council
Tim Brown has three decades of involvement in the infrastructure industry; including investment, operational management, and extensive debt and capital markets activities. He participated in the management of listed infrastructure investment company Infratil and had extensive periods on the boards of NZ Bus and Wellington Airport. He is Motukairangi ward representative on Wellington City Council and chair of Council's Infrastructure Committee.
Dr Oliver Hartwich - Executive Director, The New Zealand Initiative
Oliver is the Executive Director of The New Zealand Initiative. Before joining the Initiative, he was a Research Fellow at the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney, the Chief Economist at Policy Exchange in London, and an advisor in the UK House of Lords. Oliver holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Business administration and a PhD in Law from Bochum University in Germany.