Public Sector

TINZ Annual General Meeting

The Transparency International New Zealand (TINZ) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 18 November entirely online. Highlights included a farewell from Patron Lyn Provost, a welcome to the new Patron Dame Patsy Reddy, presentation of the annual report from Julie Haggie, the board election and awarding lifetime memberships to Lyn and Stephanie Hopkins.

Dame Patsy Reddy becomes TINZ Patron

Dame Patsy Reddy GNZM QSO DStJ has been appointed TINZ Patron having finishing her term as 21st Governor-General of New Zealand. She has had extensive experience in governance and business consulting roles.

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.

OGP action planning: Not a good start

If last week's Open Government Partnership Fourth National Action Plan workshop is any indication, New Zealand's next plan will be the same as the last three, full of activities that are either ‘business as usual’ that should have occurred anyway, or ‘side projects’ delivered on a wing-and-a-prayer.

Beneficial Ownership

Financial Integrity

Corruption Perceptions Index

Access To Information

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.  