Local government in New Zealand operates inside a paradox: councils are required to consult, but they also control the money, the process, the information, and the timing.

When those things align, consultation can become more of a performance than a constraint.

The Sale of Tauranga’s Marine Precinct is a case study in how democratic processes can be complied with, while democratic outcomes are quietly avoided.

Part 1 of our “Illusion of Consent” Series is out now.