Just so we're clear:
Do I think that big tobacco have directly influenced policy in this current government? Yes I do, that is my opinion
Do I think that the two main parties on the right have a disproportionate level of donations and funding from source of the right and far right persuasion? Yes I do - here's 2022 from the electoral commission and I'd bet that 2023 is far more disproportionate -
https://elections.nz/democracy-in-n...ew-zealand/party-donations-and-loans-by-year/
Do I think that that funding is provided with the expectation of affecting and distorting policy towards those donors and their organisations? Yes I do, that is my opinion
Do I think that the left is immune from this somehow? No I don't, but there is far more transparency within that political spectrum at the moment
Do I think that right wing so called thinktanks and right wing networks have far too much influence and impact on our democracy to the detriment of all New Zealanders? Yes I do, 100% that is my opinion. And there's much evidence around 40 years of neoliberalism to back that up
One of the main group of talking heads in this country on mainstream and right networks (nzme, the platform) is the New Zealand Initiative. They are a rebranded Business Roundtable, which was a huge and corrupting influence in the 80s and 90s, particularly with the implementation of neoliberal policies, rampant deregulation and asset sales.
Another group that gets readily unquestionably quoted is the Taxpayers Union - also members of the Atlas network, as outlined elsewhere in these pages.
The New Zealand Initiative is also part of the Atlas Network -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_Initiative
These groups do not have New Zealand's best interests at heart. They never have, and they never will. That is also my opinion. And it's pretty fact based too.