Few rules mean that we have greater corruption than in other similar countries who have rules to control lobbying, political party donations and the other means by which Government decision-making is corrupted.

The Australian Centre for Public Integrity states that ‘if someone adversely affects the exercise of public administration directly or indirectly, this is corrupt conduct. On that basis, the administration of pandemic funds by top public servants and the lack of action by the Auditor-General amount to corrupt conduct.

Transparency International is a world-wide organisation that helps expose corruption by Government employees and advocates for laws to try to prevent this type of corruption. They have a corruption Perception Index compiled by a few people who have few facts to go on so rely on Transparency International operating in different countries to provide details of what is happening in their country. Corruption is normally kept well- hidden so perceptions about it are very unreliable Transparency International New Zealand many years ago decided that its main aim was to help businesses make money by having a high place on the Perceptions Index. Monitoring of TINZ newsletters and news releases over the past 15 years shows that it failed to mention or condemn examples of political and Public Service corruption when they occurred. In some cases news releases were sent out about corruption overseas in order to cover up what has happened here.

TINZ could be seen as an ethically and morally corrupt organisation because they usually fail to speak out about examples of corruption. They promote the perception that there is little corruption here in order to divert attention away from the vastly worse corruption of Government decision-making using lobbying, money and influence.

In December 2021 the Government called for submissions on political party funding but this was not mentioned in the TINZ December and January newsletters. TINZ did not complain publicly about the very short Christmas submission period or encourage people to make submissions. In its own submission they mainly went along with what was proposed despite this being inadequate by most overseas standards.

Whenever academics and commentators call for far better controls on lobbying, political party donations etc, politicians always say that New Zealand has very low corruption according to TINZ so there is no need for any changes to be made. The TINZ strategy has been very successful in allowing the corruption of Government decision-making to flourish.

Ministers often have little time and lack the ability to make well considered decisions so rely heavily on official advice and lobbying by vested interests.

In December 2022 water legislation was passed with an entrenchment clause but two weeks later this was said to be a mistake and was reversed. This shows that Cabinet Ministers do not read most of the documents they are given and usually agree to what is recommended unless any political implications are identified.

The Auditor-General has had three very critical reports on the wage subsidy, emergency housing and the tourism fund. These all involved public servants promoting giving away huge amounts of taxpayer money without adequate justification. These schemes involved the lobbying of public servants and Ministers. The huge wage subsidy giveaway resulted in a big increase in the value of homes and other assets so public servants, Ministers and their relatives and friends would have greatly benefited. The ’group corruption’ decisions to give tens of billions of dollars to businesses cost vastly more than any person to person corruption would have done. Despite over 200 news media reports, TINZ had no comment to make on what happened.

In June 2022 the trial relating to N Z First donations had started when the TINZ newsletter came out but it was not mentioned. Many witnesses said that they had split up their donations to N Z First but they were not charged.
The trial ended on 22 July with the judge finding the two people charged with deception under the Crimes Act not guilty. Experts said that the Electoral Act needed to be quickly changed. On the following Monday the trial of those who split donations to the National Party and Labour Party was due to start with charges being brought under the Electoral Act. On that day TINZ sent out a news release about the Statistics Department.

In 2022 TINZ ignored the SFO corruption trials and the revolving doors controversy that related to lobbying. TINZ is funded by the establishment so they cover up and downplay the worst types of corruption of decision-making.

New Zealand has no regulations relating to lobbying and in this regard is ranked near the bottom of OECD countries. When the Ministry of justice was asked to investigate introducing regulations, TINZ worked with lobbyists to prevent any action being taken.

TINZ is chaired by a former National Party Cabinet Minister and is funded by the establishment so it ignores the numerous examples of how lobbying, political party donations and other inducements have corrupted Government decision-making.