Articles

TINZ and UNA NZ sign affiliation agreement

The United Nations Association of New Zealand (UNA NZ) and Transparency International New Zealand (TINZ) and have made an agreement to fully affiliate and co-operate with each other.

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Parliamentarian diary publication strengthens transparency

Transparency International New Zealand (TINZ) is encouraged by the public release of parliamentarian diaries. Today Green party ministers released meeting logs for their official activities within the last three months. This is an important step in strengthening the transparency of New Zealand’s political process.

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Julie Haggie appointed CEO of Transparency International New Zealand

Transparency International New Zealand (TINZ) has appointed Julie Haggie to become its Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

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How open is Government’s 2018 Budget data?

How would you rate the usefulness of the 2018 Budget-related information associated with The Minister of Finance, Hon Grant Robertson’s Budget delivery on 17 May 2018? 

The Treasury seeks your feedback on this information to improve the usability of future budget documents and data sets. Links to the relevant budget documents and to the brief ‘open data’ 4-question survey,

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NZX needs transparency and modernisation to support New Zealand’s future

The New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX) seems to regard initiatives aimed at enhancing its culture or that of its members, as a low priority. This inactivity and the lack of transparency may be stifling the availability of quality equity capital in New Zealand.

The NZX is not keeping up with the pace of transparency and access compared with exchanges around the world and other segments of New Zealand business and government.

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Procurement focus at Leaders Integrity Forum

Procurement – not your average crowd generating topic.  However, with recent high profile fraud and corruption cases across both public and private sectors, annual central government spend on goods and services in the order of $42 billion, it was no surprise there wasn’t a spare seat in the house at the Public Sector ‘Leaders Integrity Forum’

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Open Government Partnership reviewer seeks feedback

Now is the chance to give feedback on changes in government’s openness that you have observed as a result of NZ’s OGP National Action Plan 2016-2018.

Keitha Booth, the Open Government Partnership’s independent NZ reviewer, would very much like to hear from you.

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Banking Ombudsman Scheme

by Liz Brown

The Banking Ombudsman has become a structurally independent part of the finance sector.

Ombudsmen help address imbalances of power when an individual has a grievance against a large and powerful organisation. They originally dealt with grievances between individuals and government departments and agencies.

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In case you missed it

Money laundering

ASB bank owner receives largest fine in Aus corporate history The Commonwealth Bank has agreed to pay the biggest fine in Australian corporate history for breaches of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing laws that resulted in millions of dollars flowing through to drug importers.

Anti-money laundering rules ineffective, says study. Anti-money laundering rules are almost completely ineffective in stopping criminals, according to this new study.

Lawyers required to report money laundering suspects As of 1 July, lawyers are now subject to anti-money laundering legislation, which will require them to dob in clients making suspicious transactions. But at least one expert is dismissing the new law as a box-ticking exercise that won't catch the vast majority of criminals. RNZ Audio (including comment by TINZ Chair.  "..... It doesn't mean using laws as  something that becomes a constraint on how we do things, but instead ..... as guidelines as to how we can do things better").

New Zealand limited partnerships, in combination with Nevis limited liability companies, being peddled as 'one of the best and unique products' in the murky world of offshore finance Interest.co.nz has come across an offshore finance product that combines corporate structures from Nevis and NZ for use by those wanting to hide money and/or assets from prying eyes.

Why choose New Zealand as an offshore financial centre? ‎Vivier and Company media release published on openPR.

New Zealand Beneficial Ownership

Government pushes for beneficial ownership register for NZ companies & limited partnerships to stop 'erosion' of New Zealand as a good place for honest business By Gareth Vaughan -The Government plans to exclude trusts from beefed up company beneficial ownership requirements due to their historic privacy and confidentiality strengths, and to avoid increased costs for individuals, businesses and the Government itself.

New Zealand not immune to international financial crime - minister The government has unveiled a potential set of law changes to crack down on overseas criminals potentially misusing companies in New Zealand - RNZ

NZ director rules face review in wake of scandals More people could be barred from being company directors as the Government seeks to improve New Zealand's tarnished reputation for clean business.

Increasing the Transparency of the Beneficial Ownership of New Zealand Companies and Limited. MBIE discussion document (June 2018). 

Auckland Council

Auckland mayor Phil Goff defends stalled report Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says claims his office withheld a report to RNZ about a future downtown stadium are "misinformation".

International

Women and corruption: What positions must they hold to make a difference? New research looking at 125 different countries has found having women in Government significantly reduces corruption.

Parliamentary 'man-ban' would reduce corruption - study New research looking at 125 different countries has found having women in Government significantly reduces corruption.

'Murdered' Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko turns up alive

Russian journalist and Kremlin critic Arkady Babchenko killed in Kiev Arkady Babchenko, a Russian journalist critical of the Kremlin, has been killed in Kiev.

Modern Slavery

Is Australia's anti-slavery bill tough enough? The Australian Government introduced a new bill to Parliament to improve conditions for workers by stamping-out egregious exploitation in supply chains supplying goods to Australian consumers. A Modern Slavery Act could be enacted in Australia within the year. Opinions differ about whether the imminent law is fit for purpose, with investor groups arguing that, without an accompanying list of reporting entities, its value is limited.

Pacific

NZ investigators expose slavery and human trafficking at sea Investigators from New Zealand are behind a global operation that has exposed shocking incidents of human trafficking, slavery and abuse at sea aboard international fishing fleets

Fiji Human Rights head cleared of corruption Fiji's corruption agency says it has cleared the head of the Human Rights Commission of any misconduct 

Fiji's Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission searched Fiji Village is reporting that it understands the search relates to a complaint that was lodged with FICAC against the commission's director, Ashwin Raj.

Corruption investigation launched into Samoan top civil servant The police in Samoa have launched an investigation following a complaint alleging corrupt practises by the chief executive of a state entity.

Fiji's Rabuka pleads not guilty The leader of Fiji's largest opposition party, Sitiveni Rabuka, has pleaded not guilty to charges brought by Fiji's anti corruption authorities.

Sport

Sport NZ launches review into athlete welfare as cycling, football scandals emerge Sport NZ is examining whether national sporting bodies are failing in their duty of care to athletes as Cycling NZ and NZ Football grapple with allegations of bullying, intimidation and inappropriate behaviour in its elite programmes.

Combatting Bribery and Corruption across Asia and the Pacific

Many innovative projects and initiatives for combating bribery and corruption were revealed at the recent Transparency International (TI) Asia Pacific Regional Meeting and Integrity Conference (Taiwan, June 2018). Transparency International New Zealand (TINZ) was represented by Operations Manager, Stephanie Hopkins,

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