# The Ethics Conversation

> The Leading Business Ethics Advisory in New Zealand


## Posts

- [New Zealanders to date have had little appetite to complain about non-disclosure agreements.](https://ethicsconversation.co.nz/new-zealanders-to-date-have-had-little-appetite-to-complain-about-non-disclosure-agreements-in-contrast-the-uk-parliament-has-acknowledged-and-is-cu/): In contrast, the UK Parliament has acknowledged and is currently consulting on their widespread misuse. The criticism, that they are used to protect the powerful, has grown in intensity and scope. As questions are being raised in the House of Lords and Commons about the integrity of lawyers who deploy them against people with fewer resources, the complacence of New Zealanders has been abruptly stirred. Both countries are now on shared alert as Sir Rod Drury, co-founder of  Xero — which enjoys a strong UK client base —faces allegations of inappropriate conduct toward younger female employees. The alleged behaviour was apparent […]
- [CEO Integrity Must Be Defined](https://ethicsconversation.co.nz/ceo-integrity-must-be-defined/): Sir Rod Drury’s independent review, commissioned by Xero, has taken everyone by surprise. Or has it? Who knew what and when? New Zealanders are not good at speaking up. Silence is favoured. Suspicions, concerns, and partial evidence are routinely coupled with misunderstanding about when to speak up and fear of retaliation. When a CEO is involved, that fear is real. Encouraging a speak up culture will not be solved by policy documents. Committing to a well-designed speak up programme and a procedurally fair investigatory process will achieve what inaction and complacency cannot. Inseparable from the preference to remain silent is employee […]
- [When the Judge spells your name](https://ethicsconversation.co.nz/when-the-judge-spells-your-name/): Reputational damage, widespread media criticism, mutilation of a customer’s limb (leading to long-term financial, career and lifestyle impacts), emotional trauma to an employee (heightened by prosecution for careless driving causing injury, when he was, arguably, just doing his job)….the list goes on.
- [AI Will Predict, with 95% accuracy, which employees will blow the whistle](https://ethicsconversation.co.nz/ai-will-predict-with-95-accuracy-which-employees-will-blow-the-whistle/): Creators of artificial intelligence algorithms already say that soon their products will be able to detect behavioural patterns and feelings such as ’emotion’ and ‘sentiment’…
- [Undoing Inaction - The Insights that Build a Speak Up Culture](https://ethicsconversation.co.nz/undoing-inaction-the-insights-that-build-a-speak-up-culture-2/): The need for humans to feel a sense of belonging is accentuated in the workplace. According to Dr Geoffrey Cohen, Professor of Psychology, Stanford University. “A sense of belonging isn’t just a byproduct of success but a condition for it
- [When Calling the Shots Goes Horribly Wrong](https://ethicsconversation.co.nz/when-calling-the-shots-goes-horribly-wrong/): Procurement is where the action is. There is no sector immune to the impact of those who call the shots. Millions of dollars change hands as a direct outcome of procurement teams…
- [Leading the Herd](https://ethicsconversation.co.nz/leading-the-herd/): A major collision between two economic heavyweights found NZ headquartered Fonterra trumping globally recognised EY in the ethical leadership stakes. Such a collision is unprecedented. Fonterra is the 6th largest dairy company in the world and the largest in the Southern Hemisphere with some 20,000 employees.That’s small change however in relation to EY’s 400,000 employees, 700 offices and representation in over 150 countries. But, with an intensity that is almost off the corporate governance Richter scale, Fonterra issued a ban on EY staffers from entering Fonterra premises if they had been subject to past or present misconduct investigations. The recent merge of […]

## Pages

- [Resources](https://ethicsconversation.co.nz/resources/): Resources & Reports Everything you need to go deeper; research findings, reports, and media  Speaking Up on ESG Who’s Leading, Who’s Lagging?A frank look at the state of ethical leadership across New Zealand business — where the gaps are, who’s stepping up, and what it will take to raise the bar with Money Matters. Listen to the podcast Supporting Subheading This is a Section Heading You Can Edit​ Lacinia quisque deserunt deserunt condimentum, vestibulum, perspiciatis nostrud habitant deleniti! Elementum tortor eros pretium. Heading One Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus. Heading Two Lorem ipsum dolor sit […]
- [Endorsements & Affiliations](https://ethicsconversation.co.nz/endorsements-affiliations/): ENDORSEMENTS & AFFILIATIONS What organisations say after the conversation We work with you to close the gap between policy, culture, and practice. Ethics is easy to talk about. Harder to embed. These organisations chose to do the work, and here is what they found on the other side. The question isn’t whether ethics matters in your organisation. It’s whether it’s working. START THE CONVERSATION Jane developed and presented two one hour on line tailored ‘Lunch and Learn’ (CPD) professional ethics workshops for invited staff.With a focus on living up to our company values and with the intent of sharing learnings on […]
- [Our Insights](https://ethicsconversation.co.nz/our-insights/): Our Insights Supporting organisations to build safer, more inclusive, and ethically grounded environments through practical education and informed conversation. New Zealanders to date have had little appetite to complain about non-disclosure agreements. May 21, 2026 | by Jane R. Arnott In contrast, the UK Parliament has acknowledged and is currently consulting on their widespread misuse. The criticism, that they are… Read More → CEO Integrity Must Be Defined April 30, 2026 | by Jane R. Arnott Sir Rod Drury’s independent review, commissioned by Xero, has taken everyone by surprise. Or has it? Who knew what and… Read More → When the […]
- [Contact](https://ethicsconversation.co.nz/contact/): Get in Touch Want to discuss more about Ethics in your workplace?  The Conversation Starts Here Every meaningful shift in ethical culture begins with a single question. Ask yours. Phone: +64 274 715 785 Email: jane@ethicsconversation.co.nz Take the Next Step to Ethical Practice Today
- [Our Services](https://ethicsconversation.co.nz/our-services/): Our Services Ethics in practice is rarely tested in obvious moments. These workshops and consulting services help organisations and professionals navigate the harder questions with clarity, fairness, and confidence. explore more NZX50 New Zealand’s Largest Listed Companies Three years of original research found over 70% of NZX 50 CEOs had not personally endorsed their own Code of Ethics, a governance gap at the heart of this work. Chief Ombudsman Office of the Chief OmbudsmanNew Zealand Recommendations made by The Ethics Conversation to the Chief Ombudsman regarding the content of the guide to Making a Protected Disclosure were upheld. In April 2026 […]
- [About Us](https://ethicsconversation.co.nz/about-us/): About Us ETHICAL PRACTICE THROUGH ETHICAL LEADERS For over 15 years, we’ve been helping organisations embed ethical thinking into the way they lead, decide, and act. We believe culture is built on the foundation of ethical practice. MEET OUR TEAM What we stand for The values that shape every conversation, every engagement, every room we walk into Expect more We bring ethics to everyday decision-making and believe in what’s possible when people engage honestly Say the thing We will raise concerns clearly, without flinching, regardless of who’s in the room. Be counted We will show up on issues that matter, whether […]
- [Home](https://ethicsconversation.co.nz/): ETHICAL LEADERSHIP AND CULTURE Building business cultures of ethical responsibility Independent advisory helping New Zealand’s professional and business community audit, strengthen and advance ethical practice. DISCOVER MORE WORK WITH US ETHICS / CONDUCT CODES ASSESSED 100 BUSINESS ETHICS WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS 100 PARTICIPANTS 1300 + Where Ethical Risk Actually Lives Most organisations – public or private –  are founded with the intention to operate with integrity. Professional bodies believe their members are trustworthy and inspire confidence in their clients. The gap between that belief and everyday experience is where ethical risk lives. The Ethics Conversation works with leadership teams and professional […]

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