This is edition 2025/38 of the Ten@10 newsletter.
Welcome back. It's 2025 and 20 years since I started writing about politics and anything else that took my fancy. Thank to my VIP members for making this site what it is today. In July we will be having a 20th birthday celebration. Stay tuned for more announcements.
This is the Ten@10, where I collate and summarise ten news items you generally won't see in the mainstream media.
Enjoy!
1. The Silent Death of Lobbying Reform in NZ
Bryce Edwards
- 🏛️ Government Freezes Lobbying Reform: The NZ Government has quietly frozen the promised reforms to regulate lobbying, putting an indefinite hold on the work initiated under the previous government.
- 📜 Voluntary Code of Conduct Fails: The voluntary code of conduct for lobbyists, a part of the reform, was deemed ineffective and more of a “window-dressing exercise” with no real monitoring.
- ❌ No Progress on Lobbying Register: The much-anticipated mandatory lobbying register and other reforms have stalled, with no clear timeline for completion.
- ⏳ Minister Goldsmith Delays: Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has admitted lobbying reform is not a priority for 2024, postponing any action until later in the parliamentary term.
- 💼 Lobbyists' Influence?: There's suspicion that lobbyists may have influenced the government to halt the reform process, as several sectors with heavy lobbying presence seem to benefit from the current system.
- 📉 Public Trust at Risk: The lack of effective lobbying regulation could further erode trust in democracy, with concerns over elite influence on policymaking.
- 🚨 Integrity Institute Pushes Back: The Integrity Institute is launching its own “Unauthorised New Zealand Lobbying Register” to expose lobbying activities and promote transparency in NZ politics.
