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

Money Laundering and Corruption Report. Research published by Transparency International New Zealand investigates corruption and money laundering within Pacific Island Countries (PICs). It highlights the linkage between the two concluding that preventive and investigative systems are insufficient and not operating effectively.

Developing a regional approach to combat corruption in the Pacific, sharing knowledge and experience, building capability, strengthening cross-regional advocacy and collaboration and generating ideas for training and fundraising were the focus of the Transparency International Pacific Regional Meeting held in Suva, Fiji late February through early March.

The second Summit for Democracy included a commitment by the US and others to enhance beneficial ownership transparency. The Indo-Pacific Regional meeting held in Korea called for Indo-Pacific governments to take greater action against corruption.

The 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International showed that the Asia Pacific region stagnated with an average score of 45 for the fourth year in a row.

In December 2022 Transparency International published a report that presents the perceptions and experiences of corruption of people in seven small Pacific countries. It examines views gathered from Tuvalu, Niue, Tokelau (an island territory of New Zealand), Palau, Cook Islands, The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) and Nauru.

Pacific Island countries face particular corruption risks given their relatively small populations, dependence on natural resources, vulnerability to natural disasters and recent transition to democracy. However, evidence about levels and patterns of corruption is still limited.

TINZ was represented by Julie Haggie and Debbie Gee at the mid-point review of Transparency International’s Indo-Pacific Partnership for Strong, Transparent, Responsive and Open Networks for Good Governance 2020-2023 in Bali. Face-to-face collegiality, the opportunity to forge new relationships, rekindle existing ones, and build strong effective networks after years of being able to meet only online, were arguably the most valuable outcomes of all.

Australia has taken an historic step towards restoring trust in government with the introduction of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) legislation to Parliament.

The red flags of authoritarianism are popping up in the Pacific where governments are using extraordinary executive powers to amend their constitutions, curtail media freedom and undermine judiciaries

Anti-corruption advocates across the Pacific are expressing concern about a Chinese state-owned company's efforts to secure a port and landing strip in the Solomon Islands and money paid to the nation’s controversial leader and controlling members of parliament.

We urge Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders now meeting in Suva, Fiji to not forget that corruption plays a major role in undermining any progress in the region.

Pacific chapters describe the ‘what’, ‘why’ and ‘how’ of their contribution to integrity, transparency and accountability in Oceania in the linked report.

Amidst recent visits from foreign ministers, Transparency International chapters in the Pacific urge governments to use these opportunities to implement the policies outlined in the 2020 Teieniwa Vision, which highlights the importance of strong leadership and political will to defeat corruption.

Transparency International Australia is launching a new tool to identify the loopholes that enable corruption to thrive in the infrastructure sector in the Asia-Pacific region.

The recently released Transparency International Global Corruption Barometer - Pacific is the largest, most detailed survey of corruption in the region: how people experience it, whether they feel corruption is on the rise, and what they think are the most urgent problems.

Danika Hotham, inaugural recipient of the Suzanne Snively Scholarship, has published her research related to ‘Politics, State and Society in the Pacific Islands.’

Integrity Fiji has gained its first step towards accreditation as a chapter of Transparency International. This signals a long fight to get the chapter recognised by the international body. It is now recognised as a national contact.

Transparency International New Zealand has worked with South Pacific people, civil society leaders and communities through the development of the South Pacific Outreach Project. As the first phase winds down, there is a lot of progress to report.

Applying the National Integrity System Assessment model to small Pacific Island nations. The challenges and possible approaches.

Happy birthday to Ruth Liloqula, Chief Executive of Transparency Solomon Islands and longtime anti-corruption champion in the Pacific.

The whistleblowing Vice Chancellor of the prestigious University of the South Pacific, has a courageous story that seems like it came out of a popular Netflix thriller movie.

On World Whistleblowers Day we have an opportunity to celebrate the people who have come forward to speak out against corruption and wrongdoing. In far too many places, urgent action to protect them is still needed.

Based on excellent work on the ground and help from NZ MFAT and TINZ Integrity, Fiji is now a Transparency International National Contact.

The TINZ South Pacific Outreach Program held a series of Talanoa sessions aimed at exploring the Tongan perspective on corruption, transparency & integrity. The results are quite interesting. This is the second of three blog posts.

Political turmoil in Samoa after April elections have the long standing Pacific democracy in crisis.

The TINZ South Pacific Outreach Program held a series of Talanoa sessions aimed at exploring the Tongan perspective on corruption, transparency & integrity.

Transparency International New Zealand is working with South Pacific people, civil society leaders and communities through the development of the South Pacific Outreach Project.

Gill is looking forward to fully engaging as Transparency International New Zealand's Deputy Chair. TINZ has a significant role to play, she is thrilled to be part of it.

Collaboration between Transparency International New Zealand and Civic Leaders for Clean Transactions Integrity Fiji, comprises five key anti-corruption initiatives in the Pacific.

An article recently published by Mariam Mathew, Pacific Regional Advisor at Transparency International, highlights the unchanged perception of Pacific corruption in the 2020 Corruption Perceptions Index and efforts underway to improve.

The first-ever Pacific Islands Corruption Barometer is being conducted through Transparency International’s Indo-Pacific Partnership for Strong, Transparent, Responsive & Open Networks for Good Governance.

Transparency International New Zealand along with funding partners, is embarking on an exciting research project on corruption and money laundering across the Pacific.

“Anti-corruption advocacy in Fiji is urgently needed", says Jofiliti Veikoso, the Board Chairperson of Civic Leaders for Clean Transactions Integrity Fiji (CLCT-IF). "We are deeply grateful for the continued support of both Transparency International New Zealand and Transparency International in expediting our work during this challenging pandemic period."

Mary Jane Kivalu has joined the Transparency International New Zealand team as the Project Manager of our Network for South Pacific communities.

TINZ is excited with the opportunity and some resource, to develop a South Pacific network focussing around anti-corruption and the benefits of transparency and integrity. The network will include organisations and individuals in the Pacific diaspora in New Zealand, while connecting to South Pacific nations, and Fiji.

Leaders of the anti-corruption movement around the Pacific region convened in early February to facilitate networking, information sharing and to enhance the resilience of Pacific island countries against corruption.

New Zealand has been very supportive of Fiji in dealing with COVID-19 and Cyclone Harold. TINZ member Claire Johnstone, provided assistance to counter fake news and guide young leaders during these events.