LOBBYING 101

WHAT IS LOBBYING - REALLY?

“Lobbying” just means influencing decisions.
The problem isn’t lobbying - it’s secrecy. In New Zealand, most of it happens out of sight.

WHY DOES IT MATTER IN NEW ZEALAND?

In New Zealand, there are almost no rules around lobbying - and that’s a serious problem.

Here’s what’s missing:

❌ No public lobbying register

❌ No rules for who can lobby - or how

❌ No transparency about who’s meeting with ministers or officials and why

❌ No oversight of how influence is used behind the scenes

❌ No “cool-down” period after working in government

THE REVOLVING DOOR PROBLEM

Politicians, advisers, and senior officials can leave Parliament - and immediately start working as lobbyists or “consultants,” using their inside connections to:

Get their clients access to decision-makers
Influence policies from behind the scenes
Fast-track outcomes that serve private interests

There’s no waiting period.
No vetting.
No transparency.

And without clear rules, private influence flows quietly through the same back channels every time - while the public gets left out.

WHY DOESN’T NEW ZEALAND CALL THIS CORRUPTION?

Because we’re told we’re one of the “least corrupt” countries in the world.
But that claim is based on perception, not proof.

The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI):

Doesn’t look at lobbying
Doesn’t survey journalists or watchdogs in New Zealand
Doesn’t ask the people dealing with the fallout
It asks overseas business leaders and “experts” how honest they think we are

So while we enjoy a clean reputation, we’ve never had to actually test it.

What does corruption actually mean?

Most people think corruption means bribes, criminal deals, or money under the table.
But that’s only one version.

Corruption also includes systemic behaviours that:

Undermine fairness or transparency
Benefit a small group at the expense of others
Skew access to decision-makers
Erode public trust
Use influence to quietly shape public policy for private gain

It’s called soft corruption or institutional capture.
It’s not always illegal - but it’s still dangerous.

And here in New Zealand, we don’t like using the word “corruption" at all. But maybe that’s just another kind of spin - one that makes the public more trusting than we should be.

And when no one’s watching, bad decisions can happen quietly - and the public pays the price.

HOW WE USE LOBBYING FOR GOOD

Lobbying isn’t the problem - secrecy is.

At Lobby for Good, we use the same tools that private lobbyists do - but we use them in the open, and in the public interest.

Here’s how:

Expose quiet influence
We track patterns and show how decisions are really being shaped - not just who gets blamed.
Teach people how to push back
We train everyday New Zealanders, charities, and communities to use the same systems - effectively and strategically.
Bring people together
We help local campaigns and causes pool their knowledge and power, so they’re harder to ignore.
Push for reform
We advocate for proper transparency rules - including a lobbying register, meeting disclosures, and a mandatory cooling-off period.

Because when people understand how influence works, they have the power to change what it’s being used for.

LOBBYING SHOULDN'T JUST WORK FOR THE POWERFUL.

IT'S TIME IT WORKED FOR THE PUBLIC, TOO!

LEARN HOW TO LOBBY FOR GOOD SUBMIT A TIP ABOUT QUIET INFLUENCE

“Main political parties are risk averse and not prepared to get offside with key lobbyists and since it all happens in secret, the public are completely unaware and oblivious to it”

Sue Kedgley (former lobbyist and MP)

WE'RE DONE WAITING FOR CHANGE - SO, WE'RE MAKING IT HAPPEN.

JOIN US

“Unlike some other Western democracies, a lack of legislation in New Zealand requiring transparency around lobbying allows activities and tactics to be kept hidden from public scrutiny. Subsequent research for this project found that media frequently do not identify that some news making organisations are in reality lobby groups.”