Reshaping our democracy unconference sparks fresh thinking

Eighty people from Northland to Dunedin came together in Wellington on Saturday 5 September, 2026 to discuss how democracy in Aotearoa New Zealand could be reshaped. Organised by Re:Shape, attendees at the sold-out unconference discussed ideas ranging from how to make children central to democracy to economic democracy.

Ngāti Toa Rangatira Chief Executive Helmut Modlik who initiated Re:Shape hailed the conference as a success. "We came together to explore how our democracy can be shaped so it is more equitable, adaptive and fit for the challenges of the 21st century,” he said.

Sixteen sessions were held throughout the day-long unconference which was held at Victoria University of Wellington. The topics for the sessions were suggested by those who attended and included Te Tiriti based deliberation, decision making to protect the next generation,  information and misinformation, money in politics and climate change. 

Helmut said the number and range of people who attended contributed to interesting and inspiring conversations about how to make change. “We had rangatahi, kaumātua and representation from around the motu,” he said.

The Re:Shape team will work through the actions that came out from the sessions in the coming months. 

“We know that change will require many conversations, happening across the motu, hosted by communities, organisations and networks in their own contexts,” Helmut said. “Our unconference is part of that wider, long term kaupapa. “