UNITY
Future Generations
An independent voice for future generations
The next generation of New Zealanders don’t have a say in our elections, yet they will live the longest with the decisions we make today. The homes, jobs, climate and infrastructure that will define their lives, are in our hands.
Many of us feel this responsibility to those who come after us. 82% of Kiwis support a law requiring governments to consider the long-term impacts of decisions on future generations.
That’s why Opportunity will establish a Future Generations Act to ensure today’s laws are made with the interests of future generations in mind. We’ll create an independent Future Generations Commissioner, bring Kiwis together to set long-term national goals, and hold decision-makers to account on their responsibilities to future New Zealanders.
“The voice of tomorrow’s New Zealanders deserves to be heard in Parliament today."
THREE PILLARS FOR DECISIONS THAT LAST:
Pillar 1
An independent voice for the future
- Establish a Future Generations Commissioner as an independent Officer of Parliament who reports directly to the House like the Auditor General or the Ombudsman. This protects the role from political interference as no minister or party would direct its work or funding. Funding will be secured independently through the Officers of Parliament process which requires unanimous cross-party support.
- The Commissioner will be responsible for guiding the development of long-term national goals and holding politicians to account on their progress.
Pillar 2
Set long-term national goals together
- Use citizens’ assemblies and public forums to agree on the long-term national goals our children and grandchildren deserve.
- Build on these goals with clear targets and milestones to transparently measure national progress.
- Ensure Māori participation through the design and delivery of the assemblies and properly resourced engagement with iwi, hapū, and Māori organisations.
Pillar 3
Hold decision-makers to account
- Monitor progress against national goals and long-term commitments, like our proposed 10-year plans for health and education, our 2050 goal for energy abundance, and a 30-year infrastructure planning process.
- Require all major policy, budget, and investment proposals to disclose long-term costs, benefits, risks, and generational impacts, including the true financial cost of doing nothing.
Let’s be good ancestors.
