Transparency International highlights lobbying rules, political donation transparency and the use of urgency to pass legislation in call for more political integrity

More accountability, scrutiny and transparency is needed at Parliament, Transparency International NZ (TINZ) chair and former MP Anne Tolley says.

“We urge politicians across Parliament to uphold their often stated support for democracy and integrity by taking action on lobbying, political donations and urgency."

Tolley said New Zealand was “well behind our country peers” when it came to lobbying regulation.

"We have seen the results over several parliamentary terms: where industries and other interest groups with deep pockets, friends in high places and easy access to power are unevenly influencing government policy. All without public visibility."

The group said lobbying regulation would go part way to evening up the playing field when it comes to those who want to influence government policy.

"If we had lobbying regulation, we would know who wants to influence whom, on what. It would encourage better behaviour by politicians and by lobbyists," TINZ says.

TINZ recommends stand down periods for people moving between parliament and the lobbying industry, as well as better controls and more transparency over donations through real time reporting, caps on donations, limitations on anonymous donors and making corporate donors disclose the beneficial owners of companies, rather than just legal owners.

The previous government looked at stand down periods following a string of ministers moving directing into lobbying roles.

'Power can so easily be corrupted'

On the use of urgency in Parliament, Tolley said there had been a “sharp rise in the use of urgency including by the current government using it for over half of all legislation it has passed”.

When the House goes under urgency, it means a proposed law can be introduced and pass through all stages, bypassing the select committee process.

"This circumvents essential democratic practices such as public participation, independent expert advice, and integrity checks," Tolley said.

“We call for a ‘positive test’ for urgency so that it is used in exceptional situations, and a case is clearly made. This would need commitment from all political parties."

TINZ says if urgency becomes the modus operandi of governments, democracy loses validity for the public, which is a dangerous step towards authoritarianism. 

"Power can so easily be corrupted" says Tolley. "To hold that in check we must have accountability, scrutiny, transparency and checks and balances at Parliament. We urge politicians across Parliament to uphold their often stated support for democracy and integrity by taking action on lobbying, political donations and urgency."

DIA review

TINZ's statement follows reporting from RNZ that a lobbying document had been provided in hard form to the prime minister's office mid-2024 by Fonterra and Z Energy regarding climate legislation. In response to that incident, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said in addition to a hard copy relating to the Smith v Fonterra case, the document was also sent from a Fonterra staff member to a Beehive staffer's private email account.

“This does not meet the standards expected of staff in the Beehive and we are treating it with the seriousness it deserves, with a number of reviews underway," Luxon said.

“The Department of Internal Affairs is conducting a review of the former staff member’s IT account to ensure there are no further documents or meetings relating to the Smith v Fonterra case that should be released, and will work with the individual to identify whether there are any other work-related documents on their private email that should be on the public record."

Luxon said using private email to share official information undermines transparency and trust. 

“It remains appropriate for interested parties to talk to Ministers and their staff on policy matters, but it is imperative that information is appropriately recorded and transparent. That did not happen here."