CODE OF ETHICS

Introduction:
Lobby for Good Limited is an independent social enterprise. Our mission is to bridge the gap between everyday communities and the decisions that shape their lives. To achieve this, we must maintain the highest standards of integrity, independence, and transparency.
This Code of Ethics outlines the principles that guide our investigations, our advocacy, and our interactions with the public, decision-makers, and those who entrust us with information.

1. Independence and Non-Partisanship: 
Our primary loyalty is to the public interest and the communities we serve.
- No Political Affiliation: We are strictly non-partisan. We do not endorse, fund, or campaign for any political party or candidate.
- No Commercial Influence: We do not accept funding, direction, or commissions from commercial interests, industry lobby groups, or corporations if such support would compromise our independence or dictate the outcome of our work.
- Conflict of Interest: Our team members must disclose any personal, financial, or political affiliations that could create a conflict of interest (or the appearance of one) regarding any investigation. Where a conflict exists, the individual will recuse themselves from that specific work.

2. Accuracy, Fairness, and Truth: 
We are committed to fact-based advocacy and rigorous civic research.
- Scrupulous Honesty: We strive to report and interpret information with scrupulous honesty. We will not suppress relevant facts, distort information, or present data with improper emphasis.
- Verification: We take reasonable steps to verify all information before publication or use in our advocacy efforts.
- Right of Reply: When our investigations involve significant criticism of an individual or organisation, we will make a genuine effort to seek their perspective and provide a fair opportunity to respond prior to publication.
- Corrections: If we publish information that is found to be materially inaccurate, we will correct it promptly and transparently.

3. Protection of Sources:
The trust of our community is our most valuable asset. We recognise that individuals who submit information via our "Tell us what you've seen" platform may face risks in doing so.
- Confidentiality: We respect all confidences received in the course of our work. If a source requests anonymity, we will protect their identity to the fullest extent permitted by New Zealand law.
- Secure Handling: We employ secure methods for receiving and storing sensitive information to protect the identities of our sources and the integrity of the data.
- Informed Consent: We will not publish a source's identity or identifiable details without their explicit, informed consent.

4. Respect and Harm Minimisation:
Our work focuses on systemic issues, not personal attacks.
- Public Interest vs. Privacy: We balance the public's right to know against the individual's right to privacy. We will not intrude on personal privacy or grief unless there is an overwhelming public interest justification.
- Fair Representation: We will not place unnecessary or derogatory emphasis on personal characteristics such as gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, marital status, or physical or mental disability.
- Honest Gathering: We use fair and honest means to obtain information, documents, and interviews. We will identify ourselves and our purpose when seeking information for our investigations.

This Code is a living document. As our organisation grows and the landscape of civic advocacy evolves, we will continuously review and update these principles to ensure we remain a trusted, independent voice for communities across New Zealand.