This is edition 2026/022 of the Ten@10 newsletter.
Hi all,
This is the Ten@10, where I collate and summarise ten news items you generally won't see in the mainstream media.
Enjoy!
What the Epstein scandal means for NZ politics
Bryce Edwards
- 🗣️ Global Scandal: The Epstein files have exposed the corrupt networks at the top of the Western world, including connections to New Zealand. This isn't just about individual names; it's about the systems that allowed such abuses to thrive.
- 🇬🇧 Mandelson’s Fall: The British scandal involving Peter Mandelson reveals how deeply politics and money are intertwined, with sensitive government info being leaked to Epstein. This highlights the need for integrity reforms in politics.
- 💸 Money and Power: The Epstein files show the convergence of global elites, revealing their impunity and lack of accountability. This pattern extends across political ideologies and nations.
- 🏛️ New Zealand’s Vulnerability: New Zealand lacks lobbying regulations and transparency, ranking poorly in lobbying transparency globally. This leaves the country vulnerable to similar corruption and elite manipulation.
- 🇳🇿 Weak Integrity Systems: The lack of accountability, revolving doors, and undisclosed lobbying in New Zealand mirrors the systemic failures seen in the UK. Public trust is eroding, and integrity reforms are becoming essential.
- ⚖️ Election-year Wake-up Call: As the election year approaches, the public's frustration with unregulated influence and political corruption is growing. The demand for integrity reform will be a major issue.
- 🔍 Urgency for Reform: New Zealand must act swiftly to implement transparency measures like a lobbying register and Integrity Commission before the next scandal hits. Otherwise, it risks a legitimacy collapse similar to what’s unfolding abroad.
- 🌍 Global Lessons: New Zealand can either get ahead of global anti-corruption movements by enacting reforms or continue to pretend it’s immune—an approach that could lead to a major loss of public trust.
