This course introduces you to democracy, government and policy making in New Zealand. It begins by looking at the key institutions of government - cabinet, parliament and the judiciary - and examines the role and function of each. It covers elections and the role of interest groups and lobbyists in influencing government decisions, as well as the capacity for citizens to be involved. It thus provides a foundation for understanding how democracy in New Zealand works, and how it influences policies in areas such as international affairs, environmental policy, Maori development, and in social policy areas such as health care and housing. Policy making in these areas is political, and the course will help you to begin to understand these politics. Why is it that some problems attract government attention, and why are some solutions adopted while others are not? In examining these types of questions, the paper prepares you for the further study of politics and public policy.

As well as lecture and tutorial attendance, course work for this paper includes weekly assignments, two essays, and two tests. The expected workload for the paper is a total of 150 hours during the semester. The teaching of this paper is supported online using Moodle. To access Moodle you will need to log onto iWaikato and follow the link under ‘Key Links’, or go to elearn.waikato.ac.nz.

In addition to attending classes, you are expected to read materials and complete assignments as indicated below. You are responsible for reading the assigned material before coming to the class meeting. You are also responsible for keeping up with national policy debates through reading newspapers, the Internet, or following current affairs on television or radio.

The teaching of this paper is supported online using Moodle. To access Moodle you will need to log onto iWaikato and follow the link under ‘Key Links’ or go to elearn.waikato.ac.nz.