On 5 December 2012, The Transparency International Secretariat in Berlin released its annual Global Corruption Perceptions Index. The Index, which ranks the public sector of 176 countries across the world, has consistently shown New Zealand as a country with a strong reputation for clean government. For 2012 Denmark, Finland and New Zealand tie for first place helped by strong access to information systems and rules governing the behaviour of those in public positions.

New Zealand's high trust society is both a national treasure and an economic asset. Forbes magazine ranks New Zealand first on its most recent list of the Best Countries for Business thanks to a transparent and stable business climate. According to Phil O'Reilly Chief Executive of Business New Zealand "New Zealand's high trust public sector is it's greatest competitive advantage."

The Corruption Perceptions Index 2012 has been calculated using an updated methodology. This has been developed following a comprehensive review and consultation process, both within the Transparency International movement and with the help of external experts. The updated methodology has been reviewed and validated by an independent statistical assessment. The revised Corruption Perceptions Index methodology uses an approach that provides greater clarity on how the index is constructed, making it easier to trace how the data from the sources are rescaled for inclusion in the Index.

Links:

• TINZ Press Release
• CPI Brochure
• Transparency International Press Relase
• 2012 Corruption Perceptions Index on Transparency International Website