| New Zealand is the second least corrupt country on earth according to the latest Corruption Perception Index published yesterday by Transparency International. But how much does this reflect reality?
The problem with being continually feted for world-leading political integrity – which the Beehive and government departments love to boast about – is that it causes complacency about the existence of real corruption and shortcomings in our democracy.
For example, one of the biggest failings in New Zealand’s political system is our entirely unregulated system of corporate-political lobbying. Unlike similar countries, we have virtually no laws and regulations to keep the political power of vested interests and the wealthy in check. This means that the lobbying industry is booming, and corporate lobbyists are able to move back and forwards between senior government positions and private businesses with almost nothing to prevent conflicts of interest.
One of the latest high-profile cases involved former Justice and Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi quitting his Cabinet job and taking on a corporate lobbying job almost immediately. The move was one of the more brazen, but it was hardly an isolated incident, as those who work in the lobbying industry frequently shift in and out of senior government roles. This behaviour is referred to as the “revolving door”, in which lobbyists and political insiders frequently trade places, gaining influence, networks, knowledge, power, and then enriching themselves and the private sector.
The Labour Government has a lobbying problem
Lobbyists running the Beehive have become quite a recurring theme since Labour came to power. When Jacinda Ardern became prime minister in 2017 she immediately got rid of her existing Chief of Staff, Neale Jones, who straight away became a lobbyist. She then employed another well-known lobbyist, GJ Thompson, who helped set the Government up, employed the staff, and then shifted straight back to the private sector to help corporates lobby the Beehive.
Yesterday we learned PM Chris Hipkins has hired another lobbyist to run the Beehive – Andrew Kirton. The new Labour prime minister has therefore followed Ardern’s democratically dangerous precedent of bringing in someone from the world of corporate power and influence, who is likely to eventually go back to lobbying afterwards.
Kirton has been working for the last year for Anacta Consulting – a trans-Tasman “government relations” firm run by David Talbot who, with political commentator Stephen Mills, also provides opinion polling to the Labour Government and corporate clients.
A former student of the University of Oxford and London School of Economics, Kirton has in the past run his own lobbying firm, Kirton Consulting, but is more well known in the lobbying industry for being the head of government relations for Air New Zealand, working for Christopher Luxon when he was CEO. Kirton’s background in the corporate world also includes working for housing property developers and, when living in London, with the London Chamber of Commerce and head of public relations for Heathrow Airport.
Kirton also has a very strong political background in the Labour Party, having worked as the party’s general secretary responsible for corporate fundraising, and as a spindoctor and strategist for Helen Clark’s Labour Government.
He rose through the ranks of the Labour Party in the typically modern way, first as a president of the New Zealand University Students Association, and then working for a union (Finsec). He then became close friends with rising Labour stars including Jacinda Ardern, Grant Robertson, and Chris Hipkins. In 2017 he ran Labour’s successful election campaign.
He is now married to Labour list MP Camilla Belich, who is the frontrunner to take over from Ardern as the MP for Mt Albert. And Kirton himself has been upfront about wanting to enter Parliament. Wellington insiders say that despite his deliberate low profile, Kirton is one of the most well-connected in the Capital.
Kirton is no stranger to controversy, however, as he was General Secretary of Labour at the time of the 2017 Summer Camp scandal, when allegations of sexual harassment occurred. Kirton was criticised for presiding over an investigation that took a “victim-centred” approach, which was seen by some as a “cover-up”, with Police not called, no outside investigation launched, and families not informed.
The problem with a lobbyist running the Beehive
The conflicts of interest involved in having corporate lobbyists come in and run governments are immense. In other countries, it would be illegal. Here in New Zealand, unusually, there are no rules preventing lobbyists from coming in and out of top political rules.
While lots of media analysis is given to the ministers running the country, especially when there are reshuffles, there is a lack of acknowledgement that it is the unelected officials in the Beehive who often have much more power and influence over what happens.
Therefore, it is disappointing that Kirton’s appointment is not receiving much publicity or scrutiny. So far, the news items about his appointment don’t even mention that he is a lobbyist, and instead there is a vague mention of him being a “PR man”.
Kirton has deleted his social media accounts such as Twitter, and his LinkedIn profile, which gave the details of his past lobbying and corporate employment roles.
It’s time to have some clear rules about ministerial jobs and the lobbying industry. Currently, there is nothing in the Cabinet Manual to prevent the likes of Kris Faafoi or the various lobbyists from moving in and out of the Beehive. And of course, once Kirton finishes his job as Chief of Staff, perhaps in October, he will be free to go straight back into the corporate world lobbying government again.
At the very least, when lobbyists come into positions of political power they should have to manage their conflicts of interest with full transparency. If lobbyists are to be allowed to take on jobs running the Beehive, a condition of employment should be the full public disclosure of the clients of their lobbying firm. But don’t expect to find out who Kirton’s Anacta worked for anytime soon. This isn’t the culture in the Beehive.
When she was prime minister Jacinda Ardern was frequently lampooned for the promise that her government would be the most transparent government ever. We are yet to see how transparent Chris Hipkins will be, and how much he is willing to allow decision-making to be tied up with vested interests. But he is off to a very poor start by giving his top position to a corporate lobbyist. |
Bad move Chippie.
Will unravel the ‘bounce back’ he got from his blue collar, “New Zealand” speak.
People tired of corporate speak and even more tired of corporates trying to be blue collar lobbyists.
Another day another attack on NZ Labour–I attack them enough my self–the difference being I am not a professional pundit with a vested interest, just a working class political activist.
The writer of this piece has attempted a hit job, but…should read “Dirty Politics” and reassess in my view because the dirty filthy Natzos are the actual experts at this type of thing. Managerialism is not how to run any Govt. but hey–I would put Mike Treen, Joe Carolan, Robert Reid, Bomber or myself in ahead of whimps like Kirton.
This culture of professional management, administration, legging it over to the private sector in-between Govt. possies, is part of our embedded neo liberal monetarist system. Contracting out, selling out, penetration of public infrastructure by private capital are “how the world works” for most people. Next year will be the 40th anniversary of Roger fucking Douglas Govt.…let that sink in.
Anyone who still thinks that New Zealand, regardless of which party is ostensibly in power, isn’t effectively run by special interest groups both local and international, and that our three-yearly performative gesture of ticking a couple of boxes actually means anything (the options presented having already been vetted and approved by said interest groups), isn’t paying attention. Nothing much changes whether National or Labour are in government, because they serve the interests of the same people.
New Zealand is apparently “the second least corrupt country on earth according to the latest Corruption Perception Index published yesterday by Transparency International.” But this is a relative measure: if every country is more or less corrupt, then being the second least corrupt still means that we are corrupt.
A number of good points. AF-H.
I woke up a while ago to the peculiar way that Transparency International carried out its legwork to establish the possible level of corr. in this country. I can’t go into detail about it as I only know enough to know it is a sham; to be called corr. for short, as that is more snappy and efficient, but the farce has been going on for long.
Neo liberalism is the tool of the plutocracy.
We are already seeing a resurgence of fascist and populist movements as a result of a 50 year period where the plutocracy has run unchecked and its associated dogmas have found almost universal acceptance by western economies.
Watch the USA for a preview of our own future.
What are you talking about? To the extent that there is any “resurgence of fascist and populist movements” this is a response to and rejection of neo-liberalism, not a development of the latter. Who do you think are the people so fervently denouncing and even trying to criminalise these “fascist and populist movements”? It is the neo-liberal plutocrats, for the simple reason that the respective interests are so completely at odds. The idea of these popular movements being “fascists” has been put in your mind by Big Tech and Wall Street, because “fascism” runs counter to their profit motive. The functional definition of “fascism” in 2023 is “poses a threat to our interests.”
Hone up on your comprehension skills friend.
The conclusions you have made as to my position and subsequently criticising are the polar opposite to what I was saying.
I think the problem is that you don’t express yourself very clearly at all. What I gleaned from your comment is that, in your opinion, the “rise of fascism and populism” is a phenomenon of the neo-liberal plutocracy. However, if you weren’t saying this, then my response to your comment is perfectly valid, and I hope we can both come together in a populist movement against neo-liberalism.
‘The conflicts of interest involved in having corporate lobbyists come in and run governments are immense. In other countries, it would be illegal’
And which countries would they be?
Not the U.K,U.S,Australia,that’s for sure.
Overt corruption really is way way better. At least you know where you stand. It won’t be long though before lil ole NuZull that punches above its weight gets there as the populace gets sick and tired of this sort of bullshit.
Easier to just flick an official a 20 for not having an international driver’s licence, or drive a Uttar Pradesh cop to the local whiskey store or next crime scene instead of their having to use the bicycle.
Much better than this sort of sleazey shit!
We shouldn’t forget though that the revolving door doesn’t just apply to the political class and their “officials”
The worst, and even the very average members of that so-called 4th Estate are into it too.
And most of them have grown to be so bloody egotistical and arrogant they think that they’re being thoroughly nice about it, and there’s nothing wrong in it.
(You’re correct @ Bryce – Faafoi’s was probably the most blatant – which is possibly a good thing. Few will trust him again)
It’s time for a stand down period (of at Least 6 months) between hopping between gigs.
Also time for politicians to publish their diaries and appointments.
(Among other things)
So, what does a PM actually do then, besides read out press statements someone else writes, debate in chamber from notes someone else writes, attend interviews and sit around the table at meetings chatting and attend functions? Is that pretty much it?
I always suspected we were rated so well on the corruption index because we bribed the inspectors.
Par for the course sadly.
For the last fifteen years I have looked at these corruption indices and said exactly the same thing. We have different ways of being corrupt in NZ, maybe we dont hand over bags of cash but influence and favours are rife. Its been getting worse and worse.
Quite a few mechanisms to divert attention from the truth as well. Under this govt, they have become well oiled and now resemble an art form. Peter Hughes is the Dissembler in Chief.
Lobbyists have been a feature of National Party Politics.
Names like Crosby Textor and recently Policy Exchange feature.
Both think tanks are associated with the alt right and their influence on social media like Cambridge Analytica before them is so strong as to put democracy at risk.
Compare that with the political advisors of Labour whose influence is restricted to our NZ environment.