List of political scandals in New Zealand

Last updated

The following is a list of governmental and public sector scandals in New Zealand. While New Zealand generally scores very well on international indices of corruption, there have been several notable high-profile scandals including cases of cover-ups relating to politics, economics, or public sector debacles, or to the private lives of individual government representatives.

Contents

List of scandals

1890s

1900s

A cartoon depicting the "Voucher incident" showing New Liberal moderates distancing themselves from Fisher. A Split in the New Liberal Party.jpg
A cartoon depicting the "Voucher incident" showing New Liberal moderates distancing themselves from Fisher.

1910s

1920s

1930s

"Uncle Scrim" (Rev. Colin Scrimgeour) was at the centre of a political scandal in 1935. Colin Scrimgeour.jpg
"Uncle Scrim" (Rev. Colin Scrimgeour) was at the centre of a political scandal in 1935.

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

Sir Robert Muldoon was at the centre of several political controversies during his time as Prime Minister (1975-1984). Muldoon 26 June 1969.jpg
Sir Robert Muldoon was at the centre of several political controversies during his time as Prime Minister (1975–1984).

1980s

1990s

Populist New Zealand First MP Winston Peters was responsible for the release to parliament of the papers which led to the Winebox Inquiry. WinstonPetersEuropa.jpg
Populist New Zealand First MP Winston Peters was responsible for the release to parliament of the papers which led to the Winebox Inquiry.
Investigative journalist Nicky Hager, whose books - most notably The Hollow Men and Dirty Politics - have explored several political scandals since the 1990s. Nicky Hager at European Parliament April 2001b.jpg
Investigative journalist Nicky Hager, whose books – most notably The Hollow Men and Dirty Politics – have explored several political scandals since the 1990s.

2000s

2010s

ACT Party leader John Banks was in the headlines for the wrong reasons in both 2011 and 2014. John Banks.jpg
ACT Party leader John Banks was in the headlines for the wrong reasons in both 2011 and 2014.
National Party MP Jami-Lee Ross was at the centre of a media frenzy in late 2018. Jami-Lee Ross Portrait.jpg
National Party MP Jami-Lee Ross was at the centre of a media frenzy in late 2018.

2020s

  • July: Labour Party MP and Minister of Health David Clark is demoted and then resigns as a Minister following repeated alleged breaches of COVID-19 lockdown guidelines. [76]
  • July: National Party MP Hamish Walker admits to leaking confidential COVID-19 patient information to the press. The information had come to him via former National Party President Michelle Boag, who had received it while acting chief executive of the Auckland Rescue Helicopter trust. [77]
  • July: National Party MP Andrew Falloon quit politics after sending an indecent image to a young woman. [78] NZ Police subsequently reopened their investigation into Falloon after a number of other women came forward with complaints. [79]

See also

Notes

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  2. McLintock, A. H., ed. (22 April 2009) [First published in 1966]. ""Marine Scandal", 1899". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage / Te Manatū Taonga . Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  3. "Shipping and Seamen's Act Amendment Act 1894 (58 VICT 1894 No 62)". Parliamentary Counsel Office. 1894. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  4. "Marine Commission: Commission to Inquire into Certain Matters Relating to the Marine Department". National Library of New Zealand. 1899. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  5. "The Fisher Incident again". Thames Star,2 Volume XLII, Issue 10682. 10 August 1905. p. 2. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
  6. 1 2 3 Stickley, Tony (24 August 2005). "Awatere sent straight to jail over fraud charges". The New Zealand Herald . Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  7. Broughton, W. S. "Charles Ewing Mackay". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography . Ministry for Culture and Heritage . Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  8. Fraser, B. (ed.) (1986) The New Zealand Book of Events. Auckland: Reed Methuen. p. 259. ISBN   0-474-00123-7
  9. Yska, Redmer (2006). Wellington: Biography of a City. Auckland: Reed. pp. 159, 160. ISBN   0-7900-1117-4.
  10. Betts, G.M. (1970). Betts on Wellington: A City and its Politics. Wellington: A. H. & A. W. Reed Ltd. p. 135. ISBN   0-589-00469-7.
  11. Kitchin, Peter (7 June 2007). "Longevity brought criticism". Dominion Post . p. B7.
  12. Kitchin, Peter (12 June 2003). "Truth left begging in Holloway case". The Dominion Post . p. 6.
  13. Grant, David (2014). The Mighty Totara: The life and times of Norman Kirk. Auckland: Random House. pp. 91–3. ISBN   978-1-77553-579-9.
  14. "The legitimacy of judicial review of executive decision-making". New Zealand Law Society. Archived from the original on 4 February 2010.
  15. Romanos, Joseph (26 August 2010). "The Wellingtonian Interview: Gerald O'Brien". The Dominion Post . Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  16. McLean 2006, p. 300.
  17. Gustafson 1986, pp. 142–3.
  18. Hawkins, Barry (2 July 1997). "Council survivor outlasts his critics". The Evening Post. p. 9.
  19. Audrey Young (28 August 2012). "McLay: My plan to replace Muldoon". The New Zealand Herald .
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  21. Audrey Young (30 June 2000). "Tyre let down so drunk PM could not drive car". The New Zealand Herald .
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  31. "Timeline in the Taito Phillip Field saga". The New Zealand Herald . 4 August 2009.
  32. "Police drop case against former MP Worth – report". The New Zealand Herald. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 3 July 2009.
  33. Trevett, Claire (29 July 2009). "Minister accused of breaking privacy law". The New Zealand Herald .
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  35. "Kevin Clarke:Govt can't escape leaky homes blame". The New Zealand Herald . 25 March 2010.
  36. Gorman, Paul (30 March 2010). "ECan councillors sacked". The Press . Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  37. "Garrett: 'It is untenable for me to remain'". The New Zealand Herald . NZPA. 23 September 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  38. Anderson, J., and Baldwin,L., "Justice Bill Wilson quits", National Business Review , 21 October 2010.
  39. "Goff facing more questions over Hughes affair". Radio New Zealand. 30 March 2011.
  40. "No charges against former Labour MP Darren Hughes". stuff.co.nz. 8 June 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
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  42. "PM settles 'teapot' defamation claim". Radio New Zealand. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  43. "Ministers' knowledge of Novopay problems revealed". 3 News. 1 February 2013. Archived from the original on 1 August 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  44. "Dunne resigns as minister over GCSB leak". Radio New Zealand. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
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  46. "Case against John Banks thrown out". The New Zealand Herald. 19 May 2015.
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  51. "Mike Sabin announces resignation as Northland MP". Scoop . 30 January 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  52. "Police tight-lipped about assault allegation". Radio New Zealand . 21 December 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  53. Manhire, Toby (22 April 2015). "New Zealand prime minister John Key apologises for pulling waitress's hair". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  54. "Press council rules against the Herald on 'Ponygate' Interview". NZ Herald. 2 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
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  56. Edwards, Bryce "Political roundup: The bizarre 'bribery' and flying sheep scandal", New Zealand Herald, 28 May 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  57. Gulliver, A. "Auditor General to investigate Saudi sheep controversy", stuff.co.nz, 18 August 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  58. "Colin Craig files defamation suit". Radio New Zealand News. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  59. "Colin Craig called manipulative during defamation case against him". Stuff (Fairfax Media). 6 September 2016.
  60. "Government gives secret payment to MP Todd Barclay's former employee over clandestine recording". Stuff. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  61. "Barclay steps down as candidate for 2017 election". Scoop.co.nz. 21 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  62. "I'll pay back what I owe, Greens co-leader Metiria Turei confirms". Stuff. 20 July 2017.
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  64. Walters, Laura; Cooke, Henry (27 March 2018). "Curran's 'informal' meeting with Carol Hirschfeld planned for an hour". Stuff . Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  65. "Jacinda Ardern sacks Clare Curran from Cabinet, removes her from two portfolios after second failure to declare a meeting". 1 News. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
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  67. "Jami-Lee Ross: 'I believe Simon Bridges is a corrupt politician'". Radio New Zealand. 16 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
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  76. "Coronavirus: New Zealand minister resigns after lockdown blunders". BBC News. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
  77. "National MP Hamish Walker admits passing on leaked Covid-19 patient info from former party president Michelle Boag". Stuff.co.nz . Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  78. "National MP Andrew Falloon quits politics, alleged to have sent indecent image to young woman". Stuff.co.nz . Retrieved 20 July 2020.
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  81. "Exclusive: Govt MP blows whistle on 'rampant' Parliament bullying, takes aim at officials, party whips". The New Zealand Herald . 11 August 2022. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  82. "Footage of the aftermath of Kiri Allan's crash emerges, owner of other car describes damage". Radio New Zealand . 26 January 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  83. "Stuart Nash has resigned as police minister, PM Hipkins says". RNZ.
  84. "Solicitor-General considered charging Nash over 2020 cop killer comments – here's how the PM is responding". Newshub. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  85. "Fresh revelation of Cabinet rule breach leads to Stuart Nash's sacking". RNZ. 28 March 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
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