Transparency International’s 2016 Corruption Perception Index (TI CPI) has found that the New Zealand and Denmark public sectors are the least corrupt in the world.
Wendy McGuinness, as quoted in Transparency International New Zealand’s Media Release:
“The role of Transparency International-CPI in benchmarking the perception of corruption is critically important. Given that New Zealand is ranked highly means that we are doing well, but this should not make us complacent – we could do better. Corruption delivers a range of unintended consequences such as poverty, inequality and lower tax revenue (due to tax fraud). Once corruption is embedded into the system of government, it creates a ‘new normal’ and that new normal can impact on families and communities over many generations. Building and empowering trust within civil society is one key way New Zealand can combat corruption. This is why civics and quality reporting form part of the Institute’s work programme in 2017. New Zealand is a small, isolated and wealthy country; we should be working harder to be an example to the world.” Wendy McGuinness, CEO of the McGuinness Institute
The graph below illustrates New Zealand compared to its significant trading partners.
