Good Afternoon

Please find enclosed an acknowledgement from the Office of Hon Collins

Acting Ministerial Secretary for Hon Judith Collins
Minister of Justice, Minister for ACC, Minister for Ethnic Affairs
Level 6.6 EW
Parliament Buildings
Wellington 6160
04 817 6806

________________________________

Good afternoon

Please see the attached in regard to your request.

Kind regards

Ministerial Secretary|Office of the Hon Judith Collins MP
Minister of Justice|Minister for ACC|Minister for Ethnic Affairs | MP for Papakura
Tel: +64 4 817 6806 | Fax: +64 4 817 6506 | www.judithcollins.co.nz | Parliament Buildings | Private Bag 18041 Wellington 6160

-----Original Message-----
From: Grace Haden [mailto:[OIA #1717 email]]
Sent: Thursday, 29 May 2014 11:16 a.m.
To: J Collins (MIN)
Subject: Official Information Act request - Please provide the evidence to support that New Zealand is the least corrupt country in the world.

Dear Minister of Justice,

I note that in many press releases, speeches and presentations you refer to New Zealand as being the least corrupt in the world .

I am aware that transparency International New Zealand whose membership consists of many government agencies, public servants and is financially supported by the office of the auditor General, prime ministers office and many more government departments, has claimed that New Zealand is the least PERCEIVED corrupt in the corruption perception index.

I am not aware of any other index which measures actual corruption or corruption in the justice department or police .

Based on your statements which you have made over the past three years claiming repeatedly the New Zealand is the least corrupt could you please provide the evidence on which you rely to make those statements and the basis for claiming that our police and judicial systems are the least corrupt .

I also refer to a news item http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/articl... in which there is a statement " Her office cited figures from Transparency International showing New Zealand as the least corrupt country in the world."

Could you please provide that evidence .

I request this under urgency as I will be attending an international conference in Mid June and wish to present the evidence on which the minister relies.

Yours faithfully,

Grace Haden

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Good afternoon

Please see the attached in regard to your request.

Office of the Hon Judith Collins MP
Minister of Justice|Minister for ACC|Minister for Ethnic Affairs | MP for Papakura
Tel: +64 4 817 6806 | Fax: +64 4 817 6506 | www.judithcollins.co.nz | Parliament Buildings | Private Bag 18041 Wellington 6160

-----Original Message-----
From: Grace Haden [mailto:[OIA #1717 email]]
Sent: Thursday, 26 June 2014 10:29 p.m.
To: J Collins (MIN)
Subject: RE: Official Information Act request - Please provide the evidence to support that New Zealand is the least corrupt country in the world.

Dear J Collins (MIN),

thank you for your response I would like it to be noted that transparency International New Zealand's membership is almost exclusively government departments and the index they have is a perception index. I am concerned that all too often the word perception is dropped and the survey whichis done on a small selection of chosen business people is not reflective of the reality.

I have for 8 years been trying to report a fraud in which a fraudulent application was made to get law enforcement powers, this is classic use of public office for private pecuniary gain . Yet no agency has dealt with it.

people are charged for benefit fraud but to write legislation for your own business plan , advise on it and then obtain coercive law enforcement powers is apparently condoned.

by way of OIA could the minister please provide the official definition of corruption and please state why the scenario described is not considered corruption and if it is corruption why cant the matter be dealt with in this the allegedly least corrupt( perceived) country in the world.

Yours sincerely,

Grace Haden

-----Original Message-----

Good afternoon

Please see the attached in regard to your request.

Kind regards

Ministerial Secretary|Office of the Hon Judith Collins MP Minister of Justice|Minister for ACC|Minister for Ethnic Affairs | MP for Papakura
Tel: +64 4 817 6806 | Fax: +64 4 817 6506 | www.judithcollins.co.nz | Parliament Buildings | Private Bag 18041 Wellington 6160

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[OIA #1717 email]

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Dear Ms Haden

 

Official Information Act 1982 request: definition of corruption and
explanation as to why a particular scenario is not considered corruption
under New Zealand Law

 

I refer to your email of 26 June 2014 to the Minister of Justice
requesting, under the Official Information Act 1982:

 

“…the official definition of corruption and please state why the scenario
described is not considered corruption and if it is corruption why can’t
the matter be dealt with in this the allegedly least corrupt  (perceived)
country in the world.”

 

On 27 June 2014, the Minister transferred your request to the Ministry of
Justice.

 

There is no legally binding definition of corruption in New Zealand.
However, the Serious Fraud Office relies on the following definition:

 

“Behaviour on the part of officials in the public or private sector in
which they improperly and unlawfully enrich themselves or those close to
them, or induce others to do so, by misusing the position in which they
are placed".

 

I am unable to comment on the particular scenario described in your email.
I can, however, provide you with some information about New Zealand’s
anti-corruption laws. Part 6 of the Crimes Act 1961 contains criminal
offences related to public sector corruption. The Act criminalises the
corrupt use of official information and bribery of:

o judicial officers
o Ministers of the Crown
o members of Parliament
o law enforcement officers
o public officials and foreign public officials

 

The Secret Commissions Act 1910 contains offences relating to private
sector corruption. These are currently punishable by a fine not exceeding
$1,000 or imprisonment for up to 2 years. The Organised Crime and
Anti-corruption Legislation Bill, which the Minister introduced into the
House of Representatives on 25 June 2014, will increase the maximum
penalty to 7 years’ imprisonment.

 

You have the right under section 28(3) of the Official Information Act
1982 to complain to the Ombudsman about the decision in relation to the
information you seek.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

Ministry of Justice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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