New Zealand ratifies UN corruption convention

New Zealand has ratified the legally-binding United Nations Convention Against Corruption, committing it to act against corruption in the public and private spheres, Justice Minister Amy Adams said Wednesday.

"Benefits of ratifying the convention include ensuring our domestic anti-corruption measures remain robust and meet international best practice," Adams said in a statement.

"It's also a clear demonstration that New Zealand values a fair and corruption-free international trading system. This is important for maintaining New Zealand's reputation as a trustworthy trading partner with zero-tolerance for corruption," said Adams.

"As a member of the convention, New Zealand will be able to better contribute to global anti-corruption efforts by providing a legal basis for extradition and mutual legal assistance between other member countries when dealing with corruption-related crimes."

New Zealand joined 177 other countries as a party to the convention, which focuses on the four key areas of prevention, criminalization, international cooperation, and recovery of the proceeds of corruption.

New Zealand had broadly complied with the convention for a number of years, said Adams, but had only recently completed law changes to enable its ratification. Endit