By no means is the following all the corruption, but just a taste of what we are fighting for.

 

New Zealand generally ranks highly on international corruption indices, but has experienced specific instances of corruption, integrity failures, and systemic issues within its legal and law enforcement systems between 2010 and 2025. 

Noteworthy Incidents and Cases

• Police Misconduct and Falsification of Records: In October 2025, an investigation revealed that over 100 police officers had falsely or erroneously recorded more than 30,000 alcohol breath tests. Disciplinary processes are currently underway.

• High-Ranking Police Sexual Misconduct and Cover-ups: A significant scandal involved former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming, who was charged with viewing objectionable images on his work computer. A 2025 Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) report found serious misconduct and interference by senior police leadership in the initial investigation of sexual misconduct allegations against him, with the aim of protecting his career. The IPCA report noted that the initial handling of the case was "appalling".

• Corruption within Police and Organised Crime: A 2025 report identified a case where a police officer was paid $70,000 by an organised crime group to share sensitive information from the police database. There have been other cases of police staff leaking information to gangs.

• Wrongful Convictions and Systemic Failure: The case of Teina Pora, whose wrongful conviction for murder and rape was quashed by the Privy Council in 2015, highlighted a "collapse in the justice system" and a struggle to self-correct. This and other similar cases led to the establishment of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) in 2020 to address potential miscarriages of justice.

• Border and Corrections Corruption: Instances of corruption have been found in border services, including customs employees and airport baggage handlers assisting with drug importation. In the corrections system, staff have faced charges related to smuggling and bribery.

• Political and Public Sector Corruption: Taito Phillip Field, a former MP, was convicted in 2009 (and appeals dismissed after 2010) of bribery and corruption for using his public office for private gain in an immigration scheme. The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has prosecuted other public sector corruption cases, including an Auckland Council employee who accepted a bribe to secure a contract for a businessman. 

Systemic Concerns

Transparency International New Zealand (TINZ) reports have noted weaknesses in the system, including concerns about the lack of transparency in lobbying, "revolving door" practices between public and private sectors, and vulnerabilities in areas like public procurement, immigration, and local councils. New Zealand's score on the Corruption Perceptions Index has declined since 2015, indicating growing concerns about public sector integrity.