The re-election of Donald Trump as 47th President of The United States highlights the crisis in democracy affecting many Western Nations including right here in New Zealand. 

 

Huge international companies and wealthy individuals are simply buying influence with our neoliberal government, who are actively encouraging offshore “investors” to plunder our resources and ravage our natural environments.

 

Sometimes big issues are best understood by taking one case study and unpacking the various layers of the story until you reach the core of a problem, which is why we have chosen the proposed gold mining in the Coromandel State Rain Forest.

 

Investigative documentary maker Bryan Bruce and Director of Photography Conan Fitzpatrick will reveal how a Canadian mining company lobbied New Zealand’s right-wing coalition government that will allow them to dig a 7 Kilometre long 10 metre high tunnel under the protected Kauri trees of the Wharekirauponga and home to many unique species of animal and plant life.

 

It’s a story about how Big money is buying our democracy to do whatever it wants, and not one the nation's broadcasters want to tell.

 

So, we have decided to crowdfund this project and screen the finished documentary in cinemas up and down Aotearoa/New Zealand in the weeks leading up to the 2026 election. As a first step to achieving this goal, we are asking for your help in funding the production of The Democracy Crisis film.