The distraction around policy costing rather than focusing on the merits of the policies themselves highlights the need for a Parliamentary Budget Office

New Zealanders value a government that is open, and accountable. There are practical ways to see these qualities translated into concrete policies and actions.

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.

In June the Independent Electoral Review panel sought submissions on its interim report. TINZ responded with a submission supporting many of the panel’s recommendations, but not all. Here are some that we find concerning:

Online harm has real world consequences. It’s time for New Zealand to take a closer look at the role of big tech companies in amplifying and profiting from this harm, and to ensure our laws are fit for purpose.

TINZ presents “Promises to Policy to Action”, our urgent call for invigorating New Zealand’s healthy democracy. We offer concrete actions within the broad areas of: 1.) Stopping flows of dirty money within and in/out of New Zealand; 2.) Strengthening political Integrity, enhance democracy and national security; 3.) Protecting public resources and securing integrity in the public and private sectors.

TINZ Director Luke Qin reports from the Regional meeting of the second Summit for Democracy in Seoul. Of particular interest is the mention of work on a New Zealand anti-corruption strategy by the Serious Fraud Office

The announcement by the Prime Minister of potential regulation of lobbyists and other matters is welcome news to those who advocate for political integrity. Now we need to turn it into effective legislation.

This report published in April 2023 was primarily prepared by TINZ, with review and further contribu􀆟ons by the Parliamentary Services Library staff. The focus is on central government with some limited coverage of local government.

TINZ recently commented on The Review into the Future of Local Government’s draft report He mata whāriki. Our submission’s overall call to action is that reform proposals should ensure greater transparency of decision-making with better access of voters and reporters to local democracy.

TINZ provided a submission and met with the Electoral Review panel in late October. Our baseline position draws on core reasons for demanding electoral integrity.

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.

Recap of a short, sharp and focused seminar/webinar about cybercrime with real stories and examples the audience could relate to and understand.

A recommended short course to help slow the spread of harmful misinformation online and protect you friends and family.

The TINZ transparency, governance and decision making road trip is a journey through behaviours and knowledge that are essential to local government leadership.

Join us via livestream on November 2nd 2022, 2pm-3pm to learn from crime and scam experts how cyber scams work in the Aotearoa New Zealand context, with a special focus on advice for the mature audience.

On July 25th 2022 Netsafe and NZTech launched a new initiative that commits a range of technology companies to reducing the risk of online content that may cause harm to New Zealanders.

An Independent Electoral Review Panel has been established by the Minister of Justice to conduct a broad review of New Zealand’s electoral laws. They are encouraging organisations and individuals to engage with this kaupapa.

Candidates and elected members of local government will have free access to a ‘Road Trip’ online learning resource published by Transparency International New Zealand (TINZ) today.

Transparency International New Zealand (TINZ) recently co-hosted an online event focusing on stories and perspectives of young people regarding the ecosystem of misinformation and how it impacts all areas from elections, democracy and civil society as well as important issues such as climate change and COVID-19 response.

Co-hosted by TINZ, the Detox our Digital World webinar is targeting youth and young adults in New Zealand and the Pacific. Please join us on 14 July at 6:30pm.

In New Zealand we have much to treasure about our democracy. But worldwide and domestically democracy is under stress.

What is acceptable tax planning as opposed to unacceptable tax avoidance? Unfortunately, that will always be a question of the facts in any circumstance and will often be influenced by the perspective of the country seeking to assert tax avoidance.

Civil society is operating in an increasingly hostile environment. The best way to create social cohesion is to allow charities to do their work without undue government interference. Sadly, the current review risks heading in the opposite direction.

Independent assurance helps to build trust and integrity. That is key to demonstrating wellbeing and resilience, individually and collectively.

Just as we are using the COVID app and wearing masks, we also need to protect our homes, incomes, businesses and our open lifestyle from attacks by malevolent fraudsters.

TINZ remains concerned that political parties are largely unaware of New Zealand’s vulnerability to the impact of corruption that originates overseas. They are generally naive about how our international reputation for strong integrity attracts the corrupt on one hand, while on the positive side, strengthening New Zealand's integrity systems to prevent this corruption has the potential to accrue value to their constituencies and to our economy.

Democracy faces daily new risks in the digital age. This article highlights a few tools like 'The complete guide to NZ Election 2020' which aim to create an informed electorate and provide transparency around political advertising and political content.

Transparency International New Zealand (TINZ) posed seven key questions to each political party on issues of transparency, anti-corruption and protection for whistleblowers. Here are their responses

The July 2020 Groupthink webinar focussed on democracy under threat, as reflected in social media. Sanjana Hattotuwa spoke about weaponising social media while Josie Pagani focussed on New Zealand’s population dynamics. Kim Connolly-Stone was MC for this most insightful session.

This year TINZ offers voters a set of open-ended questions to ask candidates in the run-up to New Zealand’s central government election on 19 September. They are about fighting corruption, integrity, accountability and transparency. These questions complement more detailed questions we have put to the main political parties.

Along with many other civil society organisations Transparency International New Zealand has added its name to an international declaration on COVID-19 and its risks to open government.

New Zealand needs to address long-standing open government engagement and content issues in its next Open Government Partnership National Action Plan. The government and the public need to work together to resolve these issues so that more New Zealanders participate in New Zealand’s democracy.

As we focus on protecting everyone’s health and well-being from this unprecedented global virus, we are made acutely aware of life and death and the ways in which we manage the transition from one to the other. ...consider the voices we are losing, the stories that make up our collective memory and how we might “protect, record and cherish them, while we still have a chance."

New Zealand is developing it's fourth Open Government Partnership National Action Plan. Here is an update about planned events and a suggestion for areas where transformative initiatives are called for.

A review of recent Transparency International New Zealand (TINZ) activity around elections offers a broad-brush look at our initial plans for the 2020 electoral cycle.

Guest author Tim Barnett discusses the complex issues and practical challenges of political party funding in New Zealand. He offers a couple of examples where these issues are being addressed in other ways that are worth considering for New Zealand.

This year, Transparency International analysed the relationship between politics, money and corruption, including the impact of campaign finance regulations and how money influences political power and elections. Keeping big money out of politics is essential to ensure political decision-making serves the public interest and curbs opportunities for corrupt deals. Transparency International’s research highlights the relationship between politics, money and corruption. Unregulated flows of big money in politics also make public policy vulnerable to undue influence.

Transparency International New Zealand (TINZ) contributes to local government democracy by promoting integrity and civic literacy. More than 1000 local body candidates will receive its ‘Questions on Integrity’ this week.

Transparency International New Zealand (TINZ) has designed six sets of questions that can be used when talking with a candidate standing for local body elections, for which voting closes on 12 October. They are applicable to all positions.

It is gratifying to see the Ministry of Education make serious steps towards addressing the damaging socio-economic inequities in civic literacy within New Zealand. The resulting, recently released School Leavers' Toolkit, is a significant resource to guide our secondary school students for the next phase of their lives.