This is edition 2024/205 of the Ten@10 newsletter.
Welcome to the Ten@10, where I collate and summarise ten news items you generally won't see in the mainstream media.
This is normally now only for members in the VIP tier (old Silver and above), now that our membership transfer is completed. If you think you should be getting this with your membership then don't hesitate to sing out.
I hope you continue to enjoy this weekday newsletter and if you aren't currently on the VIP plan please consider upgrading.
Enjoy!
1. A Year of declining integrity
Bryce Edwards
- 🌐 Matthew Hooton suggests each MMP government worsens in ethics and transparency.
- 🏛️ The Covid-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020 aimed to speed up economic recovery through fast-tracking projects.
- 🔄 New Zealand First resurrected the Act, sparking concerns about corruption risks.
- 💰 The fast-track process raised issues of rent-seeking and potential corruption.
- 🌱 Amendments moved decision-making to an independent committee due to conflict of interest concerns.
- 💸 $500,000 in donations linked to fast-track applications raised conflict-of-interest questions.
- 🚭 Questions arose over Shane Jones' undisclosed meeting with mining executives.
- 🚬 Casey Costello's ties to tobacco industry and policy decisions raised ethical concerns.
- 🕵️ Investigations into Te Pati Māori for alleged misuse of data and electoral law breaches.
- 📉 Decline in public trust in New Zealand's institutions, including Parliament, highlighted transparency issues.
