SPCS

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTION OF COMMUNITY STANDARDS INC.

Anti-Corruption Watchdog: Few states actively fighting corporate corruption

by Leave a Comment

BERLIN (AP) ” An anti-corruption watchdog says only four of 41 countries that signed an anti-bribery convention 16 years ago are actively investigating and prosecuting companies that bribe foreign officials to win contracts, or dodge taxes and local laws.

Transparency International, which annually assesses compliance with the OECD anti-bribery convention, said Thursday that Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States are the only countries considered to be actively enforcing the agreement.

The organization says six countries are classified as having moderate enforcement, nine have limited enforcement, and the remaining 20 “are doing little or nothing.” Two could not be measured.

The worst category includes six of the Group of 20 global economic powers: Argentina, Japan, Russia, Mexico, Brazil, and Turkey.

Source: NZ Herald Thursday Aug 20, 2015

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11500359

Scandals tarnish NZ’s corrupt-free image

by Leave a Comment

Scandals in sport, politics and business beg the question: is New Zealand complacent about corruption? Nick Perry of the Associated Press reports.

If any country has a squeaky-clean image, it is New Zealand. It’s a place where police officers won’t even accept freebies from burger joints. It’s been ranked the world’s least corrupt nation for eight years straight by the watchdog group Transparency International.

Recent scandals in business, politics and sports, however, may put that reputation under threat. Some observers say the South Pacific nation’s sterling record for fairness may have made it complacent and less watchful for shady behaviour.

See full story by Nick Perry. Published 29 May 2014.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/10096613/Scandals-tarnish-NZs-corrupt-free-image

Note:

The Society for Promotion of Community Standards Inc. (“SPCS”) has been approved bronze level membership status in Transparency International (New Zealand) Inc. (TINZ) – the recognised New Zealand representative of Transparency International, the global civil society organisation against corruption. SPCS was approved “bronze level”, along with other new members (including the Earthquake Commission), at the TINZ Annual General Meeting held at Archives New Zealand on the 19th of November, 2013. Like SPCS, TINZ, is a registered charity (Charity No. CC2305) which was registered on 30 June 2008.

See:  https://www.spcs.org.nz/spcs-approved-as-member-of-transparency-international-new-zealand/

Also see SPCS Consitution (available www.charities.govt.nz  – Charity No. CC20268)

S. 2 (d) of Constitution states: “To focus attention on the harmful nature and consequences of sexual promiscuity, obscenity, pornography, violence, fraud, dishonesty in business, expoitation, abuse of alcohol and drugs, and other forms of moral corruption.”

SPCS approved as member of Transparency International (New Zealand)

by Leave a Comment

The Society for Promotion of Community Standards Inc. (“SPCS”) has been approved bronze level membership status in Transparency International (New Zealand) Inc. (TINZ) – the recognised New Zealand representative of Transparency International, the global civil society organisation against corruption. SPCS was approved “bronze level”, along with other new members (including the Earthquake Commission), at the TINZ Annual General Meeting held at Archives New Zealand on the 19th of November, 2013. A number of SPCS officers were present at the well-attended event which was preceded by a Special General Meeting to ratify updated TINZ Rules and then followed by several speakers. These included former NZ Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright, Labour MP Andrew Little and Minister of Justice Hon. Judith Collins.

See: http://www.transparency.org.nz/2013/Annual-General-Meeting-2013.htm

TINZ is a member of Transparency International, the international organisation leading the movement to eradicate corruption and bribery wherever they occur. SPCS fully supports the activities of TINZ: “Actively promoting the highest levels of transparency, accountability, integrity and public participation in government and civil society in NZ, the Pacific Islands and the world”. See: http://www.transparency.org.nz/

[Read more…]

Transparency International (NZ) past director – Michael Vukcevic – “a CV fraudster”

by Leave a Comment

High-level businessman’s CV false (Story by Phil Kitchin – Dominion Post 25/02/14)

The chairman of an influential business council with close links to the Government’s bid for a Middle East free trade agreement is a CV fraudster.

Fairfax NZ can reveal that Michael Vukcevic – head of the Auckland-based Middle East Business Council – falsely claimed to have a law degree from Victoria University.

Mr Vukcevic was also a director of anti-corruption agency Transparency International when he lied in his successful bid for the top New Zealand job at multinational law and patent firm, Baldwins.

The fraud will embarrass the firm, which was last year a finalist in the New Zealand Law Awards for a second year in a row.

It will also embarrass the Government because of the ties between the council and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NZ Trade and Enterprise.

As chair of the Middle East council, Mr Vukcevic rubs shoulders with powerful figures from MFAT – including Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully.

Mr Vukcevic used the fictitious degree to become chief executive at Baldwins in 2012.

He resigned in November last year citing “personal reasons”.

Victoria University has confirmed Mr Vukcevic’s only qualification from Victoria was a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Mr Vukcevic has not responded to multiple approaches asking for an explanation.

His seven-page CV also includes a claim he was a director for a recruitment firm. That claim is also false.

When he was at Baldwins the company’s website claimed Mr Vukcevic was a “Registered Patent Attorney” in Australia and New Zealand but he does not appear on the registers for either country.

He also claimed to be a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand but he is not registered as either with the Law Society.

Mr Vukcevic’s CV describes him as a “dynamic Chief Executive with a proven track record of success.”

It says his experience is across large public and corporate companies, private companies and Government.

Under the education, the CV claims Mr Vukcevic obtained a law degree and a BA from studying at Victoria from 1989 to 1992.

See full story:  http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/9762437/High-level-businessmans-CV-false.

Note:

1. The New Zealand Middle East Business Council website’s “Governance” listings describes Michael Vukcevic as:

 “current chairman of the New Zealand Middle East Business Council, and a past director of Transparency International (NZ).” [Suzanne Snively ONZM is currently Executive Chair of TINZ.
See: http://www.nzmebc.org.nz/about/governance/
2. TI(NZ) is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promote transparency, accountability and integrity in Government and civil society.
3.  Mr Vukcevic has not been investigated by police in relation to his actions and has not been charged with any crime.Dishonestly taking or using a document with “intent to obtain any property, service, pecuniary advantage, or valuableconsideration”is an offence under section 228 of the Crimes Act.
see http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/293029/ceo-steps-down-after-fake-degree-revealed
Also see:
CEO [Michael Vukcevic] steps down after fake degree exposed. 25/02/14
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11209767
UPDATE: 26/02/14
CV Fraudster comes clean
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9767240/CV-fraudster-comes-clean

NZ’s image tarnished by outcome survey on corruption

by Leave a Comment

New Zealand may not be the corruption free zone that the world perceives, with a new survey claiming 3.6 per cent of people admit to paying a bribe in the past 12 months.

Commissioned by anti-corruption organisation Transparency International, the survey found 3.6 per cent of New Zealanders said that either they, or someone in their household, had paid a bribe in that time….. Transparency International pointed to recent high profile arrests by the Serious Fraud Office as a sign of increased corruption. NZ’s image tarnished by briberty survey.

NZ’s image tarnished by bribery survey,  By Hamish Rutherford. The Dominion Post. December 10. 2010, p. A5.  [Read more…]