Annual report 2022/23

Outcome 1: Parliament and New Zealanders have trust and confidence in the public sector

The New Zealand public sector continues to be regarded as having one of the lowest levels of corruption in the world. Trust and confidence in the public sector remain high.

Indicator: Levels of trust in public services based on Kiwis Count survey
Target: Improving trend (or at least maintained)

Indicators 2022/23 2021/22 2020/21 2019/20 2018/19
Experience-based trust 84% 81% 81% 79% 80%
Perception-based trust 60% 62% 69% 49% 50%

Source: Te Kawa Mataaho.

For experience-based trust, indicators show that New Zealanders’ level of trust in 2022/23 was higher than the previous five years. Perception-based trust declined but was higher than before Covid-19.

Te Kawa Mataaho states that results for trust and confidence in government are starting to stabilise after a sharp increase in 2020. This increase was attributed to a change in survey methodology and the Government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Indicator: Transparency International Corruption Perception score
Target: Improving trend (or at least maintained)

Year Score
2022 87 (2nd equal)
2021 88 (1st equal)
2020 88 (1st equal)
2019 87 (1st equal)
2018 87 (2nd)

Source: Te Kawa Mataaho

The Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption. The most recent results show that New Zealand ranked second equal with Finland. Denmark was number one. New Zealand’s score has remained relatively consistent over the last five years.