Independent Candidate for Tauranga very angry at Peters Scandal

Media Statement

19.07.08

Independent for Tauranga Gray Eatwell is demanding that action is taken under the Electoral Act to bring Winston Peters and NZ First to account over their loose spending of public funds and inaccurate financial reporting.

Some months ago NZ First MP Dail Jones publicly stated that the NZ first party had received a large donation some time last year. Mr Jones held an official position in the party prior to being appointed as a list MP therefore any claim that the party did not know of the donation is totally untrue.

Apparently Winston Peters wanted the donation to be hidden, because he discredited Mr Jones’s statement at the time, however the particular bank account to which the funds were deposited (including a lawyers trust account) is totally irrelevant to the party’s obligations to honor its conditions of compliance to record such donations.

Evidence shows that Mr Glenn gave a “….donation to NZ First???”. Not to Winston Peters as his lawyer is now claiming to the media as the truth.

If indeed Mr Glenn’s donation to the party has been misappropriated as stated this would constitute a very serious matter.

The serious consequence of this situation is that NZ first is now in breach its obligations under the Electoral Act by failing to include the donation in its financial declaration.

Conditions of the Electoral Act passed recently, treat inaccurate recording of political finances very seriously, whereby anyone who exercises their democratic right to make a stand against the incumbent MPs find they are subjected to very harsh financial scrutiny.

Mr Eatwell said in Tauranga today that, “ If I was to make the same falsifications that NZ first has as an electoral candidate this would constitute a “corrupt practice” under the Electoral Act”. Under section 48(3) such an offence carries a penalty of two years imprisonment and a fine $100,000 with the loss of seat (or right to stand) (section 55 of the Electoral Act 1993)

“Consequently Winston Peters and NZ First must be held to account over this matter to prevent a grave injustice being committed against New Zealand’s fundamental democratic principles”.

“Winston Peters seems to think he can treat the financial matters of politics as a game, but under the new Electoral Finance Act (that he voted in) he will find the old days of playing with public money for his electioneering slush fund are over.” Ends

ENDS

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