Public Sector

Do you trust public procurement?

Recent government reports show that it is palpably not possible for the average knowledgeable person in New Zealand to find and understand how much public money is being spent on which programs, with which consultants and companies, and whether the spending has been evaluated with a view to its original outcomes.

Four years of Open Procurement Data

Despite many government commitments to more transparency of government procurement there has been no significant improvement over the last four years.

The rise of fraud in New Zealand

A Ministry of Justice survey reflects a sharp increase in fraud and deception crime in NZ. It is clear that personal fraud is not being managed well enough to protect consumers in New Zealand, and that criminals are exploiting the gaps.

Safer Online Services

Transparency International NZ believes it is essential to balance protecting people and wider society from harmful and unsafe content against maintaining open channels for debate, freedom and transparency of information. TINZ welcomes the Government’s review of the regulatory system for media and online platforms.

Upcoming Elections and Transparency in Government

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

Supply Chain Integrity & Investigation

The use of slave labour, child labour, debt bondage and worker exploitation is here in New Zealand and pervasive in our imports. Ultimately companies may need to invest in in-depth research of their complete supply chain and in-depth ‘feet on the ground’ investigations of suspicious suppliers.

Submission on Safer Online Services and Media Platforms Proposed Framework

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.

Infrastructure lacks transparency

The recent research report commissioned by Te Waihanga - New Zealand Infrastructure Commission makes it clear New Zealand has the necessary standards and guidance to enable infrastructure transparency. However, these measures are not currently being sufficiently followed to facilitate transparency within large New Zealand public infrastructure projects.

Greater accountability for Defence Forces, maybe….

The Inspector-General of Defence Act is now law. This law sets in place the process for establishing independent oversight to provide an avenue for independent scrutiny of the New Zealand Defence Force and its activities. Civil society was heard in the process, however OIA overrides and limited disclosure of investigations limit transparency

Comprehensive review into New Zealand's national security system published

A comprehensive review into New Zealand's national security system released in late May criticises intelligence and security agencies for lack of transparency and poor oversight mechanisms.

PASAI Accountability and Transparency Report

The Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) has published its 4th Accountability and Transparency Report. Pacific SAIs are challenged by lack of independence and resource constraints.

Public Sector Updates

Several reports on the state of the public service from Te Kawa Mataaho—Public Service Commission are now available

Review into the future for 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.

Intelligence and public trust - challenge and opportunity

Can intelligence (the people and agencies) become the cornerstone on which the broader regression in public trust could be reversed? Can intelligence (the products) become a byword for trusted reliability?

Report on Police management of fraud

In a report released in November 2022, the Independent Police Conduct Authority found major deficiencies in the way in which Police respond to fraud complaints. It recommends the development of a fraud prevention strategy incorporating both public and private sector agencies led by Police.

Don’t short circuit established legislative processes

One opinion suggests that New Zealand Governments have increasingly short circuited established processes when introducing new legislation or in making legislative change. This is likely contributing to New Zealand’s drop in the Corruption Perceptions Index.

Electoral Review Submission

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.

Road trip resource for elected officials released by TINZ

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 and Governance Road Trip released by TINZ

Transparency International New Zealand (TINZ) is excited to release a Transparency, Governance and Decision making road trip for local government. The TINZ road trip is a journey through behaviours and knowledge that are essential to local government leadership.

Can I trust you? And other questions for Local Body Candidates

Ever wondered what to ask an election candidate? So little information is provided in the candidate sheets. But you can add more power to your vote by asking them questions about things that matter to you. We have some suggestions.

Enhancing transparency in the aid sector

Transparency initiatives like the recently published Aid Transparency Index 2022, play a key role in holding donor agencies to account.

Great powers, great responsibilities: Balancing competing rights in the age of Covid-19

The May Leaders Integrity Forum blog post is now available. One key message was that transparency around the reasoning around how decisions are made is important when faced with the difficult task of balancing different, and competing, human rights for the well-being and future of New Zealand.

Trust in public institutions, what do TINZ members say?

TINZ recently surveyed its members in order to inform its feedback to a research team from the OECD and Te Kawa Mataaho | New Zealand Public Service Commission. This team is carrying out a case study on the drivers of trust that people have in government institutions in New Zealand.

Putting integrity at the core of how public organisations operate

The Office of the Auditor-General’s new integrity framework for the public sector is designed to support leaders and organisations to strive for a culture of integrity.

Key new publications from Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission

The Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission announced two key new publications - Acting in the Spirit of Service Speaking Up and Public Participation in Government in the Future - Draft for Consultation.

Evolving the National Integrity System Assessment

Transparency International New Zealand is finalising its approach for ongoing revisions to the National Integrity System Assessment utilising a functional approach.

Is Parliament quietly watering down the independence of the Government Statistician?

Former New Zealand Government Statistician Len Cook raises serious concerns about the Data and Statistics Bill quietly working its way through Parliament

Julie Read, anti-corruption advocate

Julie Read has quietly left the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) after nine years at the helm. TINZ wishes to acknowledge the major contribution she made to shedding light on corruption in New Zealand and on showing how to effectively prosecute perpetrators.

Consultation on Independent person for poor Parliamentary conduct

Parliament is establishing an ‘independent person’ role for apparent violations of new behavioural standards for members of Parliament. They are seeking feedback on the draft protocol.

Whakatinanahia: Words to Action

The theme of the last Leaders Integrity Forum for 2021 focused on section 14 of the Public Service Act 2020 that explicitly recognizes the role of the public service to support the Crown in its relationships with Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi).

The government’s distrust of our right to know

From the perspective of judging a government’s commitment to openness, they are conveying a signal that no government would choose: that there is no policy coherence between stated intent and reality.

Submission: Establishing an independent Inspector-General of Defence in New Zealand

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.

NZ Defence integrity ranked high but transparency and integration need improvement

The combined defence sector in New Zealand is ranked the most transparent and least corrupt in the world in the recently released Government Defence Integrity Index (GDI). In the same week the report of the Expert Review Group (following the Operation Burnham inquiry) highlights the need for improvements with the NZ Defence Force culture and transparency.

Defence Integrity Index New Zealand Country profile released

The combined defence sector in New Zealand is ranked the most transparent and least corrupt in the world in the just released Government Defence Integrity Index (GDI).

Pacific Corruption Barometer and Government Defence Integrity Index to be released

In November TINZ will host two launch events for two important reports: the Pacific Corruption Barometer and the Government Defence Integrity Index

Impact through Independence - Supreme Audit Institutions

In June 2021 the top public sector auditors from across the Pacific met together for the annual Congress of the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI). This year’s congress was held online, enabling streamed attendance from Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) across the Pacific and around the world.

Leaders Integrity Forums

Transparency International New Zealand runs a series of Leaders Integrity Forums on issues relating to transparency, accountability, corruption-prevention and integrity for public sector leaders. Two recent cracking good forums for public sector leaders were held recently.

Submissions

TINZ offered two submissions in August. We entered a submission to the Ministry of Justice regarding proposals against incitement of hatred and discrimination and one on the Māori electoral option.

Public Service Commission long-term insights briefings

Giving effect to the Public Service principles of open government and stewardship: An introduction to long-term insights briefings.

Budgeting in a time of COVID: A crisis is not an excuse for lack of transparency

The International Budget Partnership conducted special research in 120 countries that shows government fiscal policy responses to the COVID crisis are undermining accountability and transparency. In New Zealand some good practices fell by the wayside.

Incorporated Societies Bill Submission

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.

COVID-19 and the risks ahead: The only certainty is uncertainty

Maintaining integrity when the only certainty is uncertainty was the theme of the February 2021 Public Sector Leaders Integrity Forum.

Government anti-corruption activities of interest in 2021

As the Government rolls up its sleeves for its 2021 workload, a number of initiatives are underway that demonstrate anti-corruption is an important agenda item. Transparency International New Zealand is keeping watch on these ongoing efforts.

Promise to Practice - 2016 Anti-Corruption Summit final tracking report

The project for tracking the commitments made during the 2016 Anti-Corruption Summit is being concluded with a final report "From Practice to Impact" published in December 2020.

Better rules: better outcomes

Never in New Zealand’s history has it been more important to channel government spending inwardly to ensure it is delivering sustainable outcomes for New Zealanders. A Particularly salient section of the latest Government Procurement Rules is Rule 16 ‘Broader outcomes.’

Extending the Government procurement rules

The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is undertaking a public consultation to understand the potential benefits, opportunities, and other impacts of extending the Government Procurement Rules to more government entities in the New Zealand public sector.

Parliamentary Code of Conduct

The new proposed Parliamentary Code of Conduct addresses important issues of inappropriate sexual conduct and bullying. The code is part of proposals to make Parliament a safer working environment, from one where unacceptable conduct had become "normalised”.

Defence Force transparency found wanting

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) was found to have "manifestly inadequate" administration and institutional accountability systems for gathering, recording, preserving, investigating and providing information. This directly impacted on the quality of information provided by NZDF to successive Ministers of Defence, and through them to Parliament.

Groupthink webinar: Are we collectively ruining democracy?

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.

A matter of trust - Beneficial ownership in New Zealand

June Brain Food Webinar recap The aspirational outcome for this webinar is that we can build a team to bring about changes to the law, policies and practice around beneficial ownership, to better protect New Zealand from potentially massive impacts of international grand corruption.

Open procurement update

The level of compliance of government agencies with the mandatory procurement rules needs significant improvement. All government agencies need to improve the quality of the information that they monitor and publish about contract award notices.

Protected Disclosures update

For the effectiveness of the Protective Disclosures Bill as it currently stands before Parliament, the proof will be in the pudding. It will be important to have more rigorous monitoring of whistleblowing events and outcomes to determine if the new legislation actually encourages more people to speak up.

Anti-corruption Pledge Tracker update

Transparency International UK chapter created the Anti-corruption Pledge Tracker in 2017 and has maintained it since. This tool visualises and documents progress made since the conclusion of the summit. The latest update released in May 2020 reflects New Zealand's continued progress.

TINZ signs international declaration on risks to open government

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.

Open Budget Survey 2019

Citizens have looked to the government for timely and reliable information to protect themselves, their families and their communities particularly in this time of crisis. The 2019 Open Budget Survey provides insight, strengths, weaknesses and practical areas of improvement in New Zealand's budget process.  

Secondary Legislation changes - Will it deliver?

Throughout the COVID-19 lockdown, the Parliamentary Counsel Office (PCO) has continued to work on the Access to Secondary Legislation project. They now report on this in their latest technical update.

Vigilance, transparency and monitoring critical for COVID-19 responses

Times of crisis bring out the very best of nearly everyone. Unfortunately it also brings out the few who look at this as a time of opportunity. From small scale scams on individuals to misuse of billions earmarked for aid, this is a time of great risk. There are lots of warnings, let's heed them.

Secondary Legislation Bill submission

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.

Promise to Practice: Anti-corruption global pledge tracker

In November Transparency International UK launched the Anti-Corruption Pledge Tracker that globally monitors the progress of the commitments made by governments at the 2016 Anti-Corruption Summit in London.  