Prime Minister Chris Hipkins announced on Monday that lobbyists will soon have to sign in to the Parliamentary precinct like any other member of the public. Hipkins said that he will write to Speaker Adrian Rurawhe to request the removal of swipe card access to Parliament for business, non-government sector, and union representatives. Currently, Parliament and Beehive workers, including staffers, security, the parliamentary service, the parliamentary press gallery, former MPs and their spouses, have key card access to the precinct. Lobbyists, business and political representatives are also included on an approved visitor list.
Hipkins also announced that the government will offer support to “third-party lobbyists” to establish a voluntary code of conduct and the beginning of “long-term work on policy options to regulate lobbying”. He said a “refreshed” Cabinet Manual would be published in April that set “clear expectations for ministers in relation to conduct and decisions when considering future employment”. The announcements follow reporting on lobbyists and their influence by RNZ.
“It’s very important we have a sensible and transparent system that does not give the impression that lobbyists enjoy an unfair advantage over other New Zealanders,” said Hipkins.
He called on lobbyists to develop a voluntary code of conduct that would enhance transparency “by, for example, including the names of the clients they represent on their websites”. Hipkins also released the terms of reference for the review into Stuart Nash’s ministerial communications with donors. Nash announced his retirement from politics after being caught up in a scandal of his impropriety.
Hipkins said that the review would look at whether there were other breaches of Cabinet collective responsibility or confidentiality, or perceived or actual conflicts of interest in communications Nash had with people and entities who made declared donations to his 2017 or 2020 electorate campaigns.
“New Zealand should rightly be proud of our open and accessible government. I hope these measures will go some way to further increase transparency and the integrity of government,” said Hipkins.
