Julie Haggy: Transparency International NZ CEO on Shane Jones' meetings and the need for transparency

Shane Jones has come under fire for an undeclared dinner with mining interests. 

An article from Newsroom reveals that the dinner was excluded from his ministerial diary, Jones saying that the dinner was “informal” and “last-minute”. 

He then corrected himself, saying the dinner was arranged in advance. 

When questioned why the dinner wasn’t in the dairy, Jones said it was “less conspiracy more cock-up - and inattention in our office,” promising to tighten the administration of the diary for the future. 

Julie Haggie, CEO of Transparency International NZ, told Kerre Woodham that transparency is absolutely necessary, especially when the Minister wants to use a social license to take a considerable amount of power to make decisions. 

She said the issue is fast tracking sets up a situation where ministries are referring cases, but there’s limited opportunity for review, limited advice, and limited challenge, which is quite a concentration of power. 

Haggie said that the power shifts from the Government agency and Minister, and so much greater transparency and more accountability is very important.  

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