Monday, 22 September 2008

Conflicts of interest: Examples from the news

A quick check of Stuff.co.nz shows a nice crossection os conflicts of interest. Remembering that not all of these are 'show stoppers'. But the perception of the conflict is enough to give people pause for thought.
That is the main issue. Not that there is some kind of dodgy dealing, but that there is an impression of it. 


The chairman of a panel hearing arguments into the building of a proposed hydro scheme in Marlborough is a shareholder in a company with links to the energy industry;


A member of the board of directors is accused of a conflict of interest because he is also a member of the board of directors of Wellington airport and he is backing the Whenuapai airport project.

The important thing to remember is the impression of conflict is as important to manage as an actual conflict.

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