It's clear why people lose faith in governments

Before becoming CEO of OrbViz, I was a journalist. I would jostle (with the full force of my 158cm stature) to get line of sight at government press conferences. Every time a politician started with the phrase, 'Let me be clear,' I knew the following statement had to be graded on an opacity scale. Transparency is a fundamental pillar of a functioning democracy. However, trust in governments across the globe has been declining faster than Elon's player ranking on the 'Path of Exile 2' leaderboard [1].

The role of transparency in trust

Transparency lets citizens see how decisions are made, how resources are allocated, and what actions are being taken to address societal challenges. When government communications get muddy, citizens fear the politicians are getting 'swampy', resulting in a breakdown of faith - and, ultimately, angry townsfolk turn up with pitchforks, torches and pumping gear to drain the political marshland.

What are the root causes?

Here are my top three:

1. Inconsistency in data presentation—Governments can present statistics in ways that are outmoded or difficult to interpret. The data may be available, but not accessible to the average reader of the business pages of a nation’s daily. Not to mention our everyday citizenry. If the data is inconsistent or hard to comprehend, it can lead people to believe that officials are not on top of things or hiding the truth, even when that is not the case.

In September 2024, delays and infrequent updates in New Zealand's economic data, particularly inflation statistics, posed challenges for the Reserve Bank of New Zealand . The outdated quarterly reporting system for the Consumer Price Index hindered timely assessments of inflation trends, complicating monetary policy decisions and creating uncertainty among investors and the public[2].

2. Contradictory messaging – When different agencies or officials provide conflicting information, it creates uncertainty and diminishes confidence in government competence.

You may recall the furore surrounding the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) in 2013. The GCSB's head, Ian Fletcher, stated that the bureau had not unlawfully spied on anyone other than Kim Dotcom. However, a subsequent review by Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Kitteridge revealed that the GCSB may have unlawfully spied on up to 85 individuals between April 2003 and September 2012. This contradiction led to public criticism and diminished trust in the agency's transparency and adherence to legal boundaries[3].

3. Censorship and suppression of information – In some cases, governments attempt to control narratives by suppressing critical journalism or restricting access to information.

In February 2025, The Cook Islands faced significant public backlash over its lack of transparency in a strategic partnership deal with China, prompting protests and demands for more open governance[4].

Rebuilding trust with credible engagement

Public trust in government institutions requires a commitment to enhanced engagement through better reporting practices. This involves:

• Ensuring transparency: Governments should proactively release complete, accurate and accessible information.
• Admitting mistakes: Public officials must be willing to acknowledge errors and take corrective action.
• Improved internal communication: Establish better practices for sharing data with internal stakeholders.
• Engaging with the public: Open dialogue through transparent, trusted platforms can help bridge the gap between officials and citizens.

This report from the Department of Internal Affairs stresses that local government must adopt citizen-led engagement to fully embody its role as an enabler of democracy. It recommends expanding the use of deliberative and participatory tools to make local government ‘fit for the future.’

Being a journalist, I saw firsthand how political spin can dismantle public confidence. My colleagues in the Fourth Estate get a hard time for being ‘fake news.’ The reality? Poor reporting can be due to the inaccessibility of the official reports they are handed, as well as the tyranny of hourly deadlines and a mandate for click-bait-driven content.

Ultimately, trust in government is not automatic; it must be earned through honesty, consistency, and a commitment to the public good. Without reliable reporting of intent, spending and outcomes, democratic institutions risk further alienation from the people they are meant to serve.

- Vanessa, CEO and Co-Founder

References

1. Forbes (2025). Elon Musk Finally Admits To ‘Path Of Exile 2’ Account Boosting In DMs

2. Reuters (2024). New Zealand's data fog leaves its central bank flying blind

3. Wikipedia. (2013). Government Communications Security Bureau

4. The Guardian. (2025). Cook Islands Protests Over China Partnership Deal