Rt Hon Winston Peters
New Zealand First Leader
13 May 2014
Key Covers up Collins’ Cover up of “Substantial” Chinese Support
Justice Minister Judith Collins concealed payments made by the Chinese Government for her travel, accommodation and
other costs during her trip to China and the Prime Minister was aware of this, claims Rt Hon Winston Peters.
He says the minister deliberately failed to record the benefits in the Register of Pecuniary Interests and New Zealand
First is asking for the case to be referred to the Privileges Committee.
“This is the latest episode in a string of cover-ups around her trip to China, which she used to help her husband’s
company Oravida when its milk exports to China were stopped.
“The three Oravida contacts were a conflict of interest and therefore a breach of the Cabinet Manual. Her deliberate
concealment of payments from the Register is another clear breach of the Cabinet Manual.
“Prime Minister John Key was well aware that the Chinese Government was supporting the Minister.
In the confidential Cabinet Travel Report that is only circulated within Cabinet, Minister Collins stated that she was
“provided substantial support for all meetings, accommodation in Beijing and transportation and facilitation throughout
the visit”.
“Why did the Prime Minister then allow his minister to conceal this ‘substantial support’ from the Chinese Government by
not listing them in the Register of Pecuniary Interests that is on public view.
“Minister Collins did declare a set of books as a gift she received from the Chinese Government but failed to record the
other contributions made by Beijing.”
Mr Peters says he has asked the Speaker to refer the case to the Privileges Committee to enable all the facts to be
disclosed.