New Zealand least corrupt country
The world believes New Zealand is the least corrupt country – governmentally speaking.
This is according to Transparency International’s just-released Global Corruption Perceptions Index. New Zealand last year tied for first place with Denmark and Singapore, with Finland and Sweden close behind (see infographic below for 2011 listings, click to expand).
Compiled in Berlin, using assessments from experts and members of the business community, the index of 182 countries shows that New Zealand is perceived as the least corrupt.
The index has consistently shown New Zealand as a country with a strong reputation for clean government.
“New Zealand’s reputation for clean government is an important driver of economic prosperity,” said Transparency International New Zealand Co-Chair Claire Johnstone. “It is important that we do not squander or take for granted this reputation.”
Don’t get complacent
The New Zealand chapter of Transparency International warned against using the country’s performance on the index as an excuse for complacency.
It urged the incoming Government to expedite necessary reforms in order to maintain New Zealand’s reputation.
“The Corruption Perceptions Index is a measure of perceived public sector corruption only,” Transparency International New Zealand Director Suzanne Snively said.
“It does not address private sector corruption, nor does it serve as a measure of the broader public perception of corruption issues.“
How many countries are highly corrupt in 2011?
(click to expand)
Still some cause for concern?
Transparency International’s Global Corruption Barometer released in December 2010 showed that 3.6% of New Zealanders surveyed reported that they or someone in their household had paid a bribe to a service provider in the previous year.
And a recent survey by the Office of the Auditor General showed that 22.5% of public servants were aware of fraud having occurred in their organisations.
Ms Snively said although New Zealand signed the UN Convention Against Corruption almost 8 years ago, it was now one of only a tiny number of countries which has not yet ratified the convention.
“Consideration of the convention has been languishing in select committee “other business” for more than two years.
“We strongly encourage the new Government to address this urgently.”
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Comments and questions17
Unbeiievable!.
What can it take to get Government off their arses?
Ratify a convention, put it into law, how hard can it be? And we are still voting using paper. How hard can internet voting be to enact...
Obviously was not taking into account the corruption with RMA and consents. Don't know about the rest of NZ, but you need to know who to pay in Auckland to get these bits of paper.
Agree with anonymous. Same goes for resource consents in Queenstown Lakes District area. Just a case of paying off certain councillors and planners.
All true to the previous comments. In NZ the corruption is legalised. From local bodies to central Govt. Remember the Clarke Govt taking money from non Labour voters and transferring it to prop up their voter base. Rather than just simplify the tax system they just create a system to feather their nests and stifle growth. We had 50,000 more public servants under Labour. And they crow about lowering unemployment. It was just a rort. Voltaire said in 1764, In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.
I think the key word(in the report) is "perception". Wait until the various FMA, SFO litigations are decided. NZ will fall in these rankings.
SCF?
Crown Fibre broadband rollout?
LTSA - awarding contracts around the country for up to 3 large warning/signal trucks per small ute collecting rubbish or mowing lawns on motorways - sure they are covering helengrads mad OSH regukations ( that National hasn't changed by the way ) but who is feeding who
Pardon me for mentioning the small matter of the BIA evaporating into the DBH with more chutzpah than the most crooked property developer could dare pull. And then off to the UN.
Dr Dick Smith of ETS fame and Dame, yes Dame Jenny Shipley still mixing in polite society.
Wow. The rest of the world must be shockers.
SCF....etc. Seems as if you "do one for the team" you go free.
....and always the Auckland pavements.....
security on internet voting is ridiculously complex. As well as the large number of voters without access to it
utterly unbelievable - while not the worst in the world nz is chockfull of currupt activity and currupt people
The local office of transparency international is very non-transparent. Try getting information about it and you will see, http://www.transparency.org.nz/
New Zealand is in my opinion just very proactive in covering up its dark affairs whilst other countries such as Canada or Australia are willing to admit at least some (emphasis added) nefarious matters. New Zealand culture tries to sweep things under the rug and pretend everything is hunky dory which it is far from.
In the Cold War, Russia "officially" had no corruption because of course it did not want to investigate much less expose it. By the same token, America would at least be honest about some problems. Thus, on paper Russia was the less corrupt country.
Indeed, even in North Korea today according to the constitution people have many democratic rights. The reality is different.
So, whenever New Zealand scores highly on one of these indices it just means the wool is being pulled over the public's eyes. If multinationals knew the truth no way John Key would ever positing us as a hub for international investment. As long as the secret is kept tightly wrapped though...
... but if most countries are UNCAC members, and the CPI indicates corruption is increasing, the logic must be that membership is of no consequence. We should just stick with Germany and Japan as being the OECD members that don their own thing, regardless of US enthusiasm for UNCAC. http://integritytalkingpoints.com/
I keep hearing that NZ and other OECD countries are least corrupt.
It looks like bunch of thieves are rating themselves. Look at Standards & Poor a rating agency in 2008 rated all the Wall St. Thieves and we seem to think they are legitimate when their record shows that S&P is not to be trusted.
Corruption in the west in under the carpet inducement comes in various forms but in the east it is on the table - it is expected.
NZ had over 29 finance companies take over 10 billion dollars out of the economy - no one is really held accountable. One director took over 42 M. while company is in solvency.
I am a volunteer prison Chaplain and lesser crime people are in prison. But in NZ money and status talks very loudly plus skin colour.
Look at the Immigration Dept allow thieves to enter the country, I would like to suggest that someone has benefited to let this guys in the country.
Have to admitt I find this story funny in light of the current croynism that has been revealed within the National Party and the ACC scandal.
National has always practiced cronyism... one of the most severe forms of corruption..
I know of instances dating back to the muldoon era that affected me personally where my father was muldoons chauffeuar and as a result welfare agents wouldnt uplift us and take us into care because of my fathers connections to muldoon.
If you ever want to know which party in NZ is the most corrupt... none of the others beat National.
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