Following the 2023 election, New Zealand’s new coalition government swiftly rolled back numerous policies that had protected people and the environment. An unusually large amount of legislation was pushed through under urgency, cutting off public consultation and reducing democratic oversight. Despite coalition agreements promising evidence-based decisions, many changes favoured corporate interests and wealthy donors at the […]

Overview of this research workstream The Integrity Institute is producing the “NZ Lobbying and Influence Register” to assist the public in scrutinising elite political participants. The register details the political activities and influence of companies, lobbying firms, and interest groups, ethos-wise, as “sunlight is the best disinfectant” against corruption and the outsized influence of vested

Why do so many former politicians land cushy top jobs – while ordinary Kiwis struggle to get a fair go? Political cronyism is the reason, and it’s alive and well in New Zealand. The harsh truth is that our political system often serves vested interests rather than the public good. The result? A system rigged

New Zealand prides itself on being one of the world’s least corrupt countries. Politicians love to boast about our high rankings on the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index. The media regularly celebrates our supposedly “clean” perceived reputation. But what if this feel-good story is actually a dangerous myth that’s making your life harder and more

Why do ministers who own property investments keep blocking housing reforms that would make homes more affordable? Why did a Cabinet minister with shares in Auckland Airport get to make decisions affecting that very company? Why are politicians’ spouses and relatives mysteriously winning lucrative government contracts? The answer is conflicts of interest – a cancer

The top priority for political party bosses is to get as much money as possible for social media campaigns and election campaigns. This money makes the difference between winning and losing so they need to give those who make so called donations what they want in order to keep money rolling in each year.    There

Why are your power bills soaring while energy companies pocket millions in government subsidies? Why can’t you afford a house while property developers get fast-track approvals and tax breaks? Why are hospital waiting lists growing while billions flow to businesses that don’t need it? The answer is corporate welfare – a rigged system where your

If you’ve ever wondered why government decisions often seem to work against your interests – why your power bills keep rising while energy companies make record profits, why housing remains unaffordable while property investors get tax breaks, or why your local health services are cut while convention centres receive millions – then you need to