Transparency International New Zealand welcomes the review of New Zealand’s regulatory system for media and online platforms reduce the exposure of New Zealanders to harmful content. The current system is out-dated, inconsistent, ineffective, and fails to adequately cover social and other emerging media. We believe with the proposal to move to a consistent, platform-agnostic, content-focused approach proposed in new framework outlined in the discussion document.

TINZ is generally supportive of the legislation. If it works as the Bill intends it should support the Minister of Defence’s responsibility to have oversight of the Defence forces with a level of independent scrutiny and a range of investigative powers. Our concerns with the wording lie in the transparency of the process and lack of public reporting. We think that this can be provided without compromising national security concerns. That is the main focus of our brief comments.

TINZ's submission response covers the elements of the Bill that are particularly relevant to our areas of focus – anti corruption, good governance and transparency for accountability.

The Open Government Partnership (OGP) offers an innovative model for co-development by civil society and government to improve public transparency and accountability. We are disappointed that this opportunity has not been seized in the three years that the NAP4 has been in development.

TINZ submission to the Electoral Review consultation based on expert advice from John Hall, Ellie McKenzie, Brendon Wilson, Debbie Gee and Julie Haggie. It is further informed by our past research, integrity assessments and submissions.

Poorly regulated political finance regimes can undermine the integrity of processes and institutions of political participation and representation, resulting in corruption and a loss of public trust in politics.

The proposal is in line with the recommendations of the Burnham inquiry, and also with the reflections of the Expert Review Group (arising from that inquiry), on the accountability and transparency needed by Defence to maintain its social licence.

TINZ focuses on building resilience to corruption through institutional measures, and that theme runs through our submission points. We consider the global efforts to improve AML/CFT legislation to be one of the most significant mechanisms to tackle what is truly a global crime problem, and unashamedly advocate for it to be continuously strengthened.

The work from several joint workshops was presented to Hon Chris Hipkins, the Minister for the Public Service on 28 October with more than 30 attendees from government agencies and Civil Society Organisations. Several of the organizations involved have compiled their points from the discussion and produced the Civil Society OGP Briefing titled "Open Government Partnership: Summer Reading from Civil Society".

TINZ responded to four questions raised in this submission. We support a broader review of the Māori Electoral option including consideration for Māori to switch between electoral rolls for both general and local government elections (and separately for each). We also agree that further research and community awareness raising is needed.

A stable and thriving economy and society rely on integrity systems that facilitate checks and balances on power, transparency of decision-making and information, the ability to speak up about wrongdoing, and to see this investigated. It also relies on the ability for people to explore issues, participate in public debate and policy formation.

In our extensive submission we identify the opportunity for NAP4 to demonstrate commitment to “A culture of open government” – one of the five principles listed in the Public Service Act 2020. We also advocate for more effective engagement with civil society organisations, leading to co-created commitments that are drafted with the government, not by the government.

TINZ has submitted on the Incorporated Societies Bill currently being considered by the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee. Good governance and integrity is as important in civil society organisations as it is in public and business sector.

TINZ’s response to the Justice Select Committee Inquiry into 2020 General Election. Anne Tolley and Avon Adams were the leads in the TINZ response.

A group of Ten civil society organisations with an interest in open government sent a letter to the Hon Chris Hipkins, Minister for the Public Service, seeking a meeting to discuss extending the period for co-creation of Open Government Partnership National Actio Plan, thereby enabling funding for the plan to be included in Budget 2022.

Inquiry into the 2019 Local Elections and Liquor Licensing Trust Elections, and Recent Energy Trust Elections Submission, Transparency International New Zealand (TINZ), February 2020

TINZ’s February 2020 submission on the Secondary Legislation Bill emphasised that getting the legislation to be more consistent is one thing. But an equally high priority ought to ensure people can access the secondary legislation.

The use of algorithms has generated problems of persistent error, bias, concealment, negative extension of use and choice restriction. The Charter is an opportunity for a commitment by public sector agencies to more consistently use transparency as an accountability tool to detect, reduce and mitigate these problems.

Transparency International New Zealand comment on the Office of the Auditor General Draft Annual Plan 2020-21