New taskforce will take snapshot of corruption in New Zealand, watchdog says
( July 18, 2025, 03:45 GMT | Official Statement) -- MLex Summary: New Zealand’s financial-crime watchdog announced today the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Taskforce and a related pilot program, together with the New Zealand Police and the Public Service Commission, to gain a clearer understanding of corruption and fraud risks in the public service. In a statement, the New Zealand Serious Fraud Office said the taskforce would draw on specialist counter fraud and enforcement expertise to “assess the extent of the corruption and fraud risk” in the country. The pilot program will run for six months in two phases involving the collection of data on corruption and the analysis of that data, with a report to government on possible next steps. The full statement follows; more information can be found here. SFO Media Release 18 July 2025SFO leads Anti‑Corruption Taskforce pilot to strengthen public sector resilience The Serious Fraud Office (SFO), supported by the New Zealand Police and the Public Service Commission, today announced a joint Anti‑Corruption Taskforce and pilot programme to build a clearer, system‑wide picture of the corruption and fraud risks across the public service. The Taskforce will be led by the SFO and draw on specialist counter fraud and enforcement expertise to assess the extent of the corruption and fraud risk. The Taskforce will work with a representative group of six public service agencies, Inland Revenue, Accident Compensation Corporation, the Department of Corrections, Ministry of Social Development, Land Information New Zealand, and Sport New Zealand, to complete an in‑depth self‑assessment of their fraud and corruption control maturity. The six agencies will also report on the volume of corruption and fraud detected and prevented. SFO Chief Executive Karen Chang says, “Tackling public‑sector fraud and corruption is about safeguarding taxpayer funds and protecting New Zealanders’ trust in government. By bringing frontline agencies and enforcement partners together, this will help build a clearer intelligence picture that can be used to lift system resilience and ensure we stay ahead of emerging threats such as insider threats, foreign interference and AI‑enabled fraud.” “Many of the organisations in this pilot are already proactive members of our Counter Fraud Centre community. Their willingness to lift the hood and share data shows a strong tone‑from‑the‑top commitment to integrity. Together we’ll create a baseline that informs more targeted prevention, better detection and, ultimately, stronger enforcement.” Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche says, “New Zealand’s reputation for integrity in government is hard-earned and must be protected. This taskforce will further strengthen our ability to detect and prevent fraud and corruption wherever and whenever it happens in the public sector.” New Zealand Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, says “Corruption and serious fraud threaten the trust and integrity that underpin our society. By working together with agencies across government, this Taskforce will help us identify risks early and apply our collective enforcement expertise to keep the system strong and accountable.” The SFO acknowledges the leadership of Police Minister Hon Mark Mitchell and Public Service Minister Hon Judith Collins in championing the Taskforce, and thanks the chief executives of the six pilot agencies for their partnership. More information The pilot will run for six months and consist of two phases Phase one has already begun (July-September) and involves the Taskforce working with the six agencies to gather data and test the assessment and reporting processes Phase two (October-December), will involve the Taskforce reviewing the data and preparing a public report and advice to Ministers on next steps Anti-Corruption Taskforce Pilot explained. About the SFO ...
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