April 11, 2025 3:00pm by David Farrar

Lobbyists campaign against other lobbyists

Former politicians and health experts are calling for more transparency and regulations when it comes to lobbying, to “restore fairness to government decision making”.

Level the Playing Field is a joint campaign led by Health Coalition Aotearoa (HCA), the Helen Clark Foundation and Transparency International NZ, which is chaired by Anne Tolley, to “end hidden lobbying”.

HCA is itself one of the biggest lobbyists in New Zealand. They see lobbying as noble and great when they do it, and evil when anyone else does it.

The leftwing Health Coalition Aotearoa have today tried to launch a campaign about government lobbying demanding “fairness in government decision-making” – ironically being backed by the Helen Clark Foundation.

In their press release the co-chair, Professor Boyd Swinburn, says…
— Winston Peters (@winstonpeters) April 7, 2025

Winston doesn’t hold back what he thinks of them.

Slow the revolving door: A “cooling off” period to prevent former ministers and senior officials from immediately becoming lobbyists in their past areas of responsibility;

Does this include Green Party co-leaders leaving Parliament to head up one of the largest lobbying organisations in New Zealand?