New Zealand | New Zealand leads world in Transparency International Index

New Zealand’s Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has welcomed his country’s achievement in having ‘the least corrupt public sector in the world’ in the latest Transparency International Perceptions of Corruption Index.

The Index ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, according to experts and businesspeople. On a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean), New Zealand scores highest at 89, followed by Denmark at 88.

‘Maintaining New Zealand's spot at number one in the international transparency ratings is hugely important to the Office of the Ombudsman’, Peter Boshier said.

‘As a public watchdog, we work for accountability, transparency, and freedom of official information, all fundamental to an open and non-corrupt democracy. We’ve worked increasingly hard in the past year or two to lift performance both internally and externally, and we’re seeing results.’

Transparency International New Zealand chair Suzanne Snively said New Zealand’s top rating reflected the integrity of the country’s public servants. She also warned against complacency and pledged that work to enhance transparency must continue, including more public involvement in government decision making.

Read more about the Transparency International Perceptions of Corruption Index here.

Source: National Ombudsman, New Zealand