Transparency International has set up a secret group of lobbyists to provide advice on improving ethics in the lobbying industry, sparking claims it is being captured by the forces it seeks to contain.
Questions are also being raised about whether the open government and anti-corruption watchdog is compromised by its sources of funding and support.
Transparency International New Zealand receives funding from several government sources, including the clandestine state intelligence agencies the Security Intelligence Service and the Government Communications Security Bureau.
The charity also receives business support from a number of big consultancy firms including KPMG, Deloitte and PWC.
RNZ's Guyon Espiner spoke to Corin Dann.
