Safeguarding the Integrity of the Electoral System
The integrity of New Zealand’s electoral funding regime is key to the health of our democratic system. Behaviour that undermines this integrity could be hugely consequential.
Not only can electoral funding fraud damage the reputation of our public sector as one of the least corrupt in the world, but it can harm the way our democratic system functions as set out by law and undermine trust in our public institutions. It is in the public interest that allegations of electoral funding fraud be treated seriously and given due attention. In a representative democracy, voters must have confidence that those who make electoral donations do not unduly influence Government decisions. Without transparency in relation to electoral donations, voters do not have that reassurance.