Our 2013 National Integrity Assessment and our 2024 public sector assessment conclude that New Zealand as a whole and its institutions are less corrupt than many other countries. A relatively strong culture of integrity and of ethical behaviour exists across most of society, including in its formal institutions. There have been some good (largely reactive) achievements over time in legislative empowerment, increased enforcement and increased international and regional collaboration.
However, since 2013 the integrity systems in our country have come under increased pressure from transnational organized crime, external country influence and global tech and financial system changes. We are facing increased corruption and more diversity of corruption, within New Zealand, regionally and globally. We don’t have a national strategy, or sufficient investigative resources. There are now multiple weaknesses across our integrity systems.
There is now an urgent need for New Zealand to take a more positive, proactive approach to anti-corruption.
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