Peters says NZ First has always obeyed electoral law

NZ First leader Winston Peters says he is looking forward to talking to the Electoral Commission about its concerns about donations to his party’s foundation not being declared.

The Electoral Commission, who oversee electoral law, said it would contact the party following revelations from Stuff around donations to the party’s foundation that were not declared to the commission.

‘‘The documents being referred to in the media have not been shown to the Electoral Commission,’’ a spokeswoman said yesterday.

‘‘We will be contacting NZ First and the New Zealand First Foundation to seek further information.’’

The commission has received a complaint about the matter based on a Stuff story published yesterday.

Stuff reported that NZ First’s electoral returns do not include tens of thousands of dollars in donations documented as payments to the party’s foundation, rather than the party itself.

The New Zealand First Foundation collected donations from wealthy donors and used the money to finance election campaigns, pay for an MP’S legal advice, advertising, fund a $5000 day at the Wellington races and even pay an IRD bill. Donors to the foundation are primary industry leaders, wealthy investors and multi-millionaires.

Peters told media yesterday morning his party had never broken the law.

He said in a statement that he was looking forward to speaking to the commission.

‘‘Allegations raised this morning by [Stuff] concern a party matter but I am confident that NZ First has operated within electoral laws, now and for the last 27 years. Declarable donations were declared to the Electoral Commission,’’ Peters said.

‘‘Our system of democracy is based on the secrecy of the ballot and privacy of party memberships and donations within specified limits.’’

Speaking to media on his way into caucus yesterday, Peters said a press statement would ‘‘set the record straight’’.

‘‘For 27 years we’ve obeyed the electoral law of this country.

We’ve never deviated,’’ Peters said.

‘‘The last time there were allegations like this was in 2008. There were there inquires: the Serious Fraud Office, the police, and the Electoral Commission. They all found us to be exonerated.’’

Those inquiries in 2008 concerned donations to the party from various rich Kiwis, most famously Owen Glenn.

The Electoral Commission did not prosecute the party but did request amended returns from the party.

The Serious Fraud Office found no evidence of fraud, while Parliament’s privileges committee censured Peters for what it said was knowingly providing false information about a $100,000 donation from Glenn.

Peters stepped down from his portfolios while the matter was investigated.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was not for her to be the ‘‘arbiter’’ of electoral law.

‘‘It’s a bit premature for me to make any statements or judgments other than, of course, there is an expectation on all parties and all party leaders that we operate within the law,’’ Ardern said.

‘‘The ultimate arbiter of that is not me as prime minister but of course the Electoral Commission and those who have oversight of our electoral legislation.

‘‘We have an independent agency who is able to do that. It’s my expectation that we all abide by the law. But it is too premature for me to get into any hypotheticals here.’’

National Party deputy leader Paula Bennett said NZ First was facing serious allegations.

‘‘There’s also questions with this one, from what I can see so far, as to whether it’s lawful at all,’’ she said.

Bennett would not rule out working with NZ First in the future.

‘‘Those are discussions for another day . . . That’s something for the leader to discuss, and to bring forward at his timetable.’’

Bennett said the National Party had used a foundation in the past to manage donations, but at the time it was within the law. Bennett said National was ‘‘incredibly comfortable’’ with a Serious Fraud Office investigation into its own donations.

It was sparked by the saga that saw former National MP Jamilee Ross outcast from the party last year.