It appears from the 2025 election that local government elections are under active threat of increased corrupt behaviour. The integrity systems currently in place are showing their age. They need review and realignment to enable the full implementation of the principles of the Local Electoral Act 2001.

Several of the government’s proposed changes to electoral law in the Electoral Amendment Bill will undermine the right to vote for some of our citizens

Transparency International New Zealand has joined a campaign led by Health Coalition Aotearoa and including the Helen Clark Foundation, pushing for stronger measures towards political integrity through transparency, ethical standards and accountability.

In December Transparency International, our parent organization, released a report setting out standards for integrity in political finance.

Lisa Marriott and Max Rashbrooke from the School of Government, VUW are undertaking research about how powerful groups shift democratic decision-making away from public good. They want to hear about experiences from people with an inside perspective.

Aotearoa New Zealand's historically low levels of corruption have encouraged complacency and a reactive approach to policy making at top levels of politics and the public service.This is the finding presented in our just released research report: An assessment of the effectiveness of anti-corruption institutions in New Zealand in deterring, detecting and exposing corruption. This research forms part of our National Integrity System Assessment work programme.