Bruce. Why bother with debate and a select committee process if you can lobby and buy influence? If it’s all ok with our democracy and Wild West access and influence operations then why are trust levels so low as per Edelman Acumen Trust barometer. ? Capitalism and competition works best with a level playing field not one where a favoured few tilt it in their favour by playing political parties. Adam Smith talked about this - meetings in coffee houses.
Singapore overtook us long ago arguably because of their tough stance on corruption and public education about it. We seem to elevate the mediocre based on access and influence and connection. Hardly surprising then our economy and productivity is declining.
Loving the work you and your team are doing to bring to light these issues around a lack of transparency, lobbying and political influence, thanks Bryce.
This is rubbish. The Integration Institute (an offshoot of the CWI) is simply an organisation designed to slap the face of the centre right. Like all lefties, they agree with democracy until they find a centre-right reason not to. It is truly pathetic. My bet is this outfit spawns from and sucks on the evil breast of Vic Uni.
In case you haven't noticed, lobbying is part and parcel of how a proper democracy works.
Observations
- Left-aligned lobbying included union reps, NGOs, and progressive policy advocates — many had swipe card access until Hipkins revoked it.
- Transparency efforts were reactive, often triggered by media investigations (e.g., RNZ’s Mate, Comrade, Brother series).
- The “revolving door” between lobbying and government roles (e.g., Kirton) became a flashpoint for criticism.
- Despite reforms, critics argue the system still lacks real-time disclosure of who lobbyists represent.
I feel sad reading this sort of distressing nonsense. Bruce has crawled down a rabbit hole and bought into observing the world as left/wrong, right/correct. This, in my opinion, is a shallow approach to trying to understand the complexities complicated by the internet which stops people having proper conversations. I applaud the Integrity Institute and would say to you, Bryce, that the sorts of people attacking you demonstrate that you are promoting the truth. All power to you and keep it up, and Bruce, participate in a sensible manner and try to understand those that you may not automatically agree with.
To best of my knowledge, I've written three things mentioning your institute.
After BusinessDesk found your Trust Deed, I threaded the thing on twitter without much comment. I do not envy your having to run operations there under that Deed. It is very prescriptive.
I put up a blog post quoting Deb Te Kawa's excellent post on mistaking pluralism for corruption - in preference to some of the tu quoque critiques of your institute.
And back in February, when you claimed that MP Sir Roger Douglas and the NZ Initiative had, in 2006, pushed the Reg Standards Bill, I had some fun in our Insights newsletter. Sir Roger wasn't an MP at the time and the Initiative didn't exist yet, so I had fun imagining that my shop had access to a time machine.
I have deleted half read blogs that you have written as they were definitely biased and there is nothing more boring then biased reporting. However you write unbiased reports as well so I am going to believe that this has all come about because of the lobbying corruption within labour when they were in government. At the end of the day transparency in govt can never be a bad thing. It’s just annoying newsroom started with the farmers. That looks like an agenda driven by Urban greenies who should be locked up on their own island anyway.
Wow Bryce, well done. We really need you in Parliament! We deeply appreciate the work you are doing on our behalf.
Bruce. Why bother with debate and a select committee process if you can lobby and buy influence? If it’s all ok with our democracy and Wild West access and influence operations then why are trust levels so low as per Edelman Acumen Trust barometer. ? Capitalism and competition works best with a level playing field not one where a favoured few tilt it in their favour by playing political parties. Adam Smith talked about this - meetings in coffee houses.
Singapore overtook us long ago arguably because of their tough stance on corruption and public education about it. We seem to elevate the mediocre based on access and influence and connection. Hardly surprising then our economy and productivity is declining.
Loving the work you and your team are doing to bring to light these issues around a lack of transparency, lobbying and political influence, thanks Bryce.
Wow, that was a quick response. This guy should know better. He is supposed to be an intellectual, for god's sake!
This is rubbish. The Integration Institute (an offshoot of the CWI) is simply an organisation designed to slap the face of the centre right. Like all lefties, they agree with democracy until they find a centre-right reason not to. It is truly pathetic. My bet is this outfit spawns from and sucks on the evil breast of Vic Uni.
In case you haven't noticed, lobbying is part and parcel of how a proper democracy works.
Observations
- Left-aligned lobbying included union reps, NGOs, and progressive policy advocates — many had swipe card access until Hipkins revoked it.
- Transparency efforts were reactive, often triggered by media investigations (e.g., RNZ’s Mate, Comrade, Brother series).
- The “revolving door” between lobbying and government roles (e.g., Kirton) became a flashpoint for criticism.
- Despite reforms, critics argue the system still lacks real-time disclosure of who lobbyists represent.
Keep up the not-so-good work.
I feel sad reading this sort of distressing nonsense. Bruce has crawled down a rabbit hole and bought into observing the world as left/wrong, right/correct. This, in my opinion, is a shallow approach to trying to understand the complexities complicated by the internet which stops people having proper conversations. I applaud the Integrity Institute and would say to you, Bryce, that the sorts of people attacking you demonstrate that you are promoting the truth. All power to you and keep it up, and Bruce, participate in a sensible manner and try to understand those that you may not automatically agree with.
Leading the charge against you.
Right.
To best of my knowledge, I've written three things mentioning your institute.
After BusinessDesk found your Trust Deed, I threaded the thing on twitter without much comment. I do not envy your having to run operations there under that Deed. It is very prescriptive.
https://x.com/EricCrampton/status/1948216490521669935?s=19
I put up a blog post quoting Deb Te Kawa's excellent post on mistaking pluralism for corruption - in preference to some of the tu quoque critiques of your institute.
https://offsettingbehaviour.blogspot.com/2025/07/misunderstanding-policy-process.html
And back in February, when you claimed that MP Sir Roger Douglas and the NZ Initiative had, in 2006, pushed the Reg Standards Bill, I had some fun in our Insights newsletter. Sir Roger wasn't an MP at the time and the Initiative didn't exist yet, so I had fun imagining that my shop had access to a time machine.
https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/opinion/do-not-mess-with-time/
Hard to see much of a charge in here at all. Or is there something I've missed?
I have deleted half read blogs that you have written as they were definitely biased and there is nothing more boring then biased reporting. However you write unbiased reports as well so I am going to believe that this has all come about because of the lobbying corruption within labour when they were in government. At the end of the day transparency in govt can never be a bad thing. It’s just annoying newsroom started with the farmers. That looks like an agenda driven by Urban greenies who should be locked up on their own island anyway.