Thanks for an excellent summation and Guy Body does amazing work too.
I will also highlight the multi-year Independent Electoral Review report, which was delivered in January 2024, with its major recommendations promptly buried by the National-ACT-NZ First government.
Their report included reforms around donations, transparency of donations and attempts to remove large money from influencing our elections.
The review was instigated by Jacinda Adern and involved a number of relevant experts.
Agree with you that improvement needs to be made in terms of transparency and regulation around lobbying interests in particular. It is tempting to try to put New Zealand into more of an international context, where the scale of what might be viewed as "corruption" here vs. elsewhere is relatively minor. But it is a slippery slope over what is permitted and acceptable practice; when money and influence are involved things can get "dirty" pretty fast. Will be very interested to see the outcome of ongoing investigations into TPM and Manurewa Marae. If those incidents had involved ACT, NZ First, National, or even Labour, can only imagine the cartoon production!
One of the other things that should be more transparent on is to advise what reports they commissioned and/or relied on to make decisions. This should include the scope the reports were commissioned under and the authors as well. It doesn't matter which side of the political divide people are from they often can't help themselves and ask for a report in a way that will suit their position.
And then there those ex-MPs who've made an industry of their "advice" - to both major parties in particular. I'm looking at the RONs in particular, but there are other barrows pushed.
If we want to gain protection from rule of law internationally (we need to, and it’s slipping a bit) then we need to make sure we adhere to rule of law internationally AND we need to make sure our own domestic house is in order. That means having the right rules, the right processes, and the right level of transparency. (Currently we fall short of what we need)
Thanks for an excellent summation and Guy Body does amazing work too.
I will also highlight the multi-year Independent Electoral Review report, which was delivered in January 2024, with its major recommendations promptly buried by the National-ACT-NZ First government.
Their report included reforms around donations, transparency of donations and attempts to remove large money from influencing our elections.
The review was instigated by Jacinda Adern and involved a number of relevant experts.
Agree with you that improvement needs to be made in terms of transparency and regulation around lobbying interests in particular. It is tempting to try to put New Zealand into more of an international context, where the scale of what might be viewed as "corruption" here vs. elsewhere is relatively minor. But it is a slippery slope over what is permitted and acceptable practice; when money and influence are involved things can get "dirty" pretty fast. Will be very interested to see the outcome of ongoing investigations into TPM and Manurewa Marae. If those incidents had involved ACT, NZ First, National, or even Labour, can only imagine the cartoon production!
Thanks Bryce for a very inspiring piece! Thought-provoking, wise and inspirational!!
A great commentary.
One of the other things that should be more transparent on is to advise what reports they commissioned and/or relied on to make decisions. This should include the scope the reports were commissioned under and the authors as well. It doesn't matter which side of the political divide people are from they often can't help themselves and ask for a report in a way that will suit their position.
And then there those ex-MPs who've made an industry of their "advice" - to both major parties in particular. I'm looking at the RONs in particular, but there are other barrows pushed.
If we want to gain protection from rule of law internationally (we need to, and it’s slipping a bit) then we need to make sure we adhere to rule of law internationally AND we need to make sure our own domestic house is in order. That means having the right rules, the right processes, and the right level of transparency. (Currently we fall short of what we need)