‘Cathedral Club’ donor identified
AUCKLAND: The identity of the secret $10,000 ‘‘Cathedral Club’’ donor has been revealed as Auckland millionaire and investor Aaron Bhatnagar, as details emerge linking National Party leader Simon Bridges to a group with that name.
Mr Bhatnagar came forward yesterday after media inquiries tied the donation to a house in Remuera.
The address was listed on the original donation declaration form which had been signed by Mr Bridges, withdrawn and then submitted again without the Cathedral Club donation.
At the time the donation was made, the Upland Rd house was lived in and owned by the millionaire investor.
A spokesman for the National Party has confirmed Mr Bridges was involved in the Cathedral Club and the donation came from Mr Bhatnagar.
The name of the Cathedral Club emerged this week during JamiLee Ross’ exit from the National Party, and his accusations of Mr Bridges’ ‘‘corrupt’’ handling of electoral donations and ‘‘unlawful’’ behaviour.
Mr Bhatnagar and Mr Bridges appear in a 2006 photograph from a gathering of the Cathedral Club. The gathering also includes National MP Simon O’Connor, Mr Ross and pollster David Farrar.
Mr Farrar said the Cathedral Club was a ‘‘social gathering for people who liked to talk about politics’’.
It was called the Cathedral Club because the room in the Auckland Club at which gatherings were held had pictures of churches and cathedrals on the walls. Mr Farrar said he could recall attending only once to hear former Labour cabinet minister Michael Bassett, an author and historian, speak about the fourth Labour government.
The other donation — $14,000 — withdrawn from Mr Bridges’ return was from Cubro Ltd.
The managing director of Cubro is Logan Currie, who also runs an Exclusive Brethren school.
The Exclusive Brethren support of the National Party in the 2005 election — and claims of hidden donations — led to changes in electoral law.
The rules about declaring the identity of donors is different for parties and candidates. Candidate donations over $1500 must be identified, but the threshold is $15,000 for political parties.