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New Zealand has seen a further slip in its global ranking in the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).
The CPI is published annually by Transparency International (TINZ) and is the leading global indicator of public sector corruption.
The latest index found New Zealand was perceived to have seen increased fraud, corruption in border and immigration services, and a lack of transparency in the lobbying industry.
New Zealand's score fell from 85 to 83, dropping its ranking to fourth place.
With Singapore moving into third place, it also bumped New Zealand off the top rank in the Asia Pacific region.
Previously considered a world leader in integrity and transparency, for many years New Zealand scored 'least corrupt' alongside Denmark.
But New Zealand's ranking started to decline in 2015 and while it recovered briefly in 2020-21 its decline now appeared to be accelerating.
TINZ's 2024 research report An assessment of the effectiveness of anti-corruption institutions in New Zealand in deterring, detecting and exposing corruption found that New Zealand's response to increasing corruption pressures over several years has been lacklustre and complacent.
"We have not taken a strategic approach to preventing and monitoring corruption; we have not addressed the need for a well resourced lead agency. Collaboration and information sharing, including with the private sector, has been highly variable and there are legal weaknesses that frustrate investigations," TINZ chief executive Julie Haggie said.
TINZ chairperson Anne Tolley said there was a clear pathway to regain world leading status.
"As our 2024 research shows, we need a zeitgeist shift in thinking about anti-corruption in New Zealand towards positive prevention. This includes stronger, more visible leadership by the Public Service Commission on public sector integrity, and a single well-funded agency with the primary and high-profile responsibility for anti-corruption monitoring, coordination, research and strategic operations."
Tolley said there was also a lot of legislation in the pipeline and political will would be needed "to push this forward on the legislative agenda".
She told Morning Report the country had taken its top position for granted
"Our reputation really is critical for us," Tolley said. "So we're saying it's time we stop taking this for granted, we're too complacent and we need to take some action.
Other recommendations made to improve New Zealand's CPI score included:
- A public register of beneficial ownership of New Zealand companies, trusts and limited partnerships that enables greater transparency of the ultimate controller of these entities
- Reform on the financial transparency of political parties
- Better transparency and conduct for lobbying
