Cross-party backing emerges for lobbying overhaul, while National and Act remain silent

In a survey conducted by the Public Health Communication Centre, Greens, Labour, Opportunity and Te Pāti Māori all expressed support for establishing an online lobby register and capping political donations, steps aimed at curbing policy capture. Their platforms also propose cooling-off periods for former officials, mandatory lobbyist codes of conduct and an independent Integrity Commission, all drawn from the Health Coalition Aotearoa’s "Regulation of Lobbying Act" recommendations.

Labour and Opportunity go further, committing to exclude tobacco and other health-harmful industries from influencing public-health policy. By contrast, the National Party and Act did not submit answers and lack any listed pro-democracy measures, despite prior statements about revolving-door concerns. The findings highlight a broad, though uneven, parliamentary appetite for greater transparency in New Zealand’s policymaking.