9 hours ago
Damning report reveals growing threat of corruption across Pacific
A Ministerial Advisory Group report has found corruption is growing in scope and sophistication in New Zealand and it's enabling serious organised crime.
The Transnational Serious and Organised Crime group says New Zealand is the only Five Eyes country without a whole-of-government national anti-corruption strategy and that has created "a significant gap in the country's ability to prevent, detect, and respond to corruption risks in both the public and private sectors".
The report also names the Pacific as a direct risk to regional security — compounding New Zealand's vulnerability.
The increase presence of illicit drugs in the Pacific was escalating corruption.
Adding to the growth in corruption was the increasing numbers of deportees from Australia, New Zealand and the United States to the Pacific region. The problem was set to worsen with around 1000 deportations to the Pacific expected as a result of the Trump administration's focus.
ADVERTISEMENT
The report said New Zealand needed to act immediately to protect institutions, borders and regional stability.
That involved having a centralised reporting and investigative body and a national strategy to address corruption, along with modernising corruption offences under the Crimes Act.
The report also recommended supporting the development of similar measures in the Pacific Islands including making specialist expertise available to help nations respond to the organised crime problems they were facing.
