Yet again we are being reminded that from the moment she took office in 2017, Jacinda Ardern made a promise she would not keep – she promised her government would be the most open and transparent New Zealand has seen.
In her first formal speech to Parliament she pledged:
“This government will foster a more open and democratic society. It will strengthen transparency around official information.”
A visit to Kiwiblog today draws attention to the latest breach of Ardern’s commitment.
Political parties’ submissions on donation law reform are being kept secret.
The very next Kiwiblog post takes us from bad to worse. It tells of Local Government New Zealand’s annual conference being closed to an organisation which represents taxpayers because LGNZ poobahs disapprove of their opinions.
We imagine no such ban applies to the mainstream media, now that they have become reliant on state subsidies and have committed themselves to promote the Ardern Government’s highly contentious interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi. Continue reading “Transparency under Ardern – party submissions on donations are kept secret and Taxpayers’ Union is banned from LGNZ conference”