WELLINGTON, July 18 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand has launched a cross-agency anti-corruption taskforce pilot to strengthen public sector integrity and combat fraud, according to a government statement on Friday.
Led by the Serious Fraud Office, with support from Police and the Public Service Commission, the initiative united experts to assess risks and strengthen oversight of public funds, said the statement.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell said the pilot is a proactive move to keep New Zealand's prevention and response system resilient against threats that face the public sector.
"The public sector accounts for a third of the economy and the pilot is a critical step in protecting and enhancing New Zealand's reputation as an attractive place to invest," Mitchell said.
Public Service Minister Judith Collins said the initiative supports the government's broader public integrity agenda, aiming to uphold New Zealand's reputation for low corruption through transparency and accountability.
As part of the pilot, agencies including the Department of Corrections, Inland Revenue, the Ministry of Social Development will assess their fraud and corruption prevention and detection systems and report on preventive measures and detected offenses. ■
