Guest author Tim Barnett discusses the complex issues and practical challenges of political party funding in New Zealand. He offers a couple of examples where these issues are being addressed in other ways that are worth considering for New Zealand.

In early February, Transparency International New Zealand (TINZ) offered a submission supporting the work of Stats NZ to create an Algorithm Charter. TINZ strongly supports the primary purpose of the charter – to put the right safeguards in place so that data ethics are embedded in the work, and so that people and communities being served by these tools are always front of mind. However, TINZ would like to see the Charter go further...

New Zealand is developing it's fourth Open Government Partnership National Action Plan. Here is an update about planned events and a suggestion for areas where transformative initiatives are called for.

No matter how large and reputable an organisation nor whether it is private or public, systems and preventative measures may still be weak and ineffective to prevent bribery. The Airbus bribery case should be a call to all New Zealand organisations to review the risks around corruption and bribery internally, to ensure their measures are tested to prove effective.

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.

Our public sector’s top TI-CPI ranking provides a clear signal that New Zealand is good to do business with. In a modern globalised world, an authentic and demonstrated reputation for integrity is a primary success factor, and a competitive advantage. A Government serious about increasing trade returns as a means of improving prosperity and well-being, can get started right now on promoting New Zealand exporters and tourism companies. Our world leading reputation for public sector integrity is a key benefit to promote.

Some analysis of New Zealand's CPI score and international ramifications Top performing countries from 2012 through 2019 Low corruption equates to growth The CPI and trade The CPI and our trading partners

This article contains a number of infographics that highlight the results and findings of the 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index internationally and as it relates to New Zealand.

This year, Transparency International analysed the relationship between politics, money and corruption, including the impact of campaign finance regulations and how money influences political power and elections. Keeping big money out of politics is essential to ensure political decision-making serves the public interest and curbs opportunities for corrupt deals. Transparency International’s research highlights the relationship between politics, money and corruption. Unregulated flows of big money in politics also make public policy vulnerable to undue influence.

Top scoring countries on the CPI are not immune to corruption. While the CPI shows these public sectors to be among the cleanest in the world, corruption still exists, particularly in cases of money laundering and other private sector corruption. However, integrity at home does not always translate into integrity abroad, and multiple scandals in 2019 demonstrated that transnational corruption is often facilitated, enabled and perpetuated by seemingly clean countries.

The 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index released on 23 January 2020 by Transparency International has New Zealand sitting first equal with Denmark with a score of 87 out of 100. Compiled annually by Transparency International (a global anti-corruption organisation), the index ranks countries worldwide by perceived levels of public sector corruption.

The use of algorithms has generated problems of persistent error, bias, concealment, negative extension of use and choice restriction. The Charter is an opportunity for a commitment by public sector agencies to more consistently use transparency as an accountability tool to detect, reduce and mitigate these problems.