This is edition 2025/59 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. Launching the NZ Lobbying & Influence Register
Bryce Edwards
- 🔍 New Zealand politics is facing transparency challenges, prompting the Integrity Institute to launch an "NZ Lobbying & Influence Register."
- 🌞 Inspired by Justice Brandeis, the register aims to illuminate political influence until official rules catch up.
- 📋 Includes entries on corporate lobby groups, PR firms, industry associations, unions, and NGOs shaping government policy.
- 🔄 Constantly evolving, the register invites public input for accuracy and completeness.
- 🌱 Collaborates with Transparency International NZ and others on the "Level the Playing Field" campaign for lobbying reform.
- 🎯 Seeks systemic changes like a public lobbyist register, code of conduct, and stronger conflict-of-interest rules.
- 🚨 The Integrity Institute plays a "bad cop" role, naming and shaming influence-peddlers to drive debate and change.
- 📢 Calls for robust public scrutiny and investigative journalism to maintain pressure on political transparency.
- 🌍 Calls for public engagement to ensure ongoing monitoring and improvement of lobbying practices in New Zealand.
