NZ reclaims ‘least corrupt’ title

New Zealand’s 90% score puts country first equal with Denmark in international index

New Zealand has reclaimed its ranking as the least corrupt country in the world in an international survey. Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for 2016 gave New Zealand a score of 90 points out of 100, placing it first-equal with Denmark out of 176 countries.

The index draws on up to 13 surveys “covering expert assessments and views of businesspeople” to compile its rankings.

Among the criteria used are press freedom, public access to official information, fundamental rights and the absence of corruption.

New Zealand topped the index for seven consecutive years until 2013, before dropping to second in 2014 and fourth in 2015 — a fall which prompted the anti-corruption organisation to warn that the Government was at risk of becoming “complacent” in tackling corruption.

Transparency International NZ chair Suzanne Snively said the New Zealand public-sector agencies had successfully worked on “developing processes that prevent corruption”.

This contributed to the country’s stand-out reputation for a trusted public sector, she said. “New Zealand trades on its low corruption reputation and we are increasingly finding how to transfer these behaviours from our public to our private sector to leverage off this enviable reputation for integrity.

“Our public servants from throughout the country have a right to celebrate this news. The [index] proves that they are working to do a good job preventing corrupt behaviour.”

Justice Minister Amy Adams said the 2016 result was “an excellent score” which Kiwis could be proud of. “While we’ve always done well in these rankings it’s encouraging to see New Zealand reclaim the top spot.”

She credited the ranking to a series of Government initiatives. These included new bribery offences, ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, reviewing extradition laws and fast-tracking antimoney laundering reforms.

She said it reflected NZ’s “zero tolerance” of bribery and corruption and confirmed the country’s reputation as a world leader in this area.

New Zealand achieved the top ranking despite being caught up last year in the Panama Papers, which highlighted the holes in the country’s foreign trusts regime.