National Party put Chinese businessman up for honour
The National Party put Chinese multimillionaire Yikun Zhang forward for a Queen’s Birthday honour.
Botany MP Jami-Lee Ross yesterday claimed Zhang made a $100,000 donation to the National Party.
That donation is now at the centre of claims by Ross of unlawful conduct by party leader Simon Bridges.
There is no suggestion that Zhang acted improperly in any way in relation to the donation.
The Herald has learned Zhang — who Ross said had done no wrong — was among those put forward by National on its way out of office.
Inquiries show the nomination carried the names of National MP Jian Yang, former National MP Eric Roy and Auckland Mayor Phil Goff.
Zhang, of Remuera, who owns $40 million in Auckland property, was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
The Office of the Prime Minister is consulted on the awarding of honours. Normal practice generally sees the incoming administration sign off those nominated by the previous Government. It is understood most of those under National went through in the New Year’s Honours but a number — including the nomination for Zhang — didn’t go through until the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister would not discuss the matter.
“Honours matters are treated in strictest confidence. It is not the Prime Minister’s policy to comment on matters relating to honours recognition for particular individuals.”
Ross thrust the businessman into the national spotlight yesterday with claims that a $100,000 donation from Zhang had then been split into smaller chunks so its origins could be hidden.
He said he believed Zhang had simply been caught up in Bridges’ alleged plan to circumvent campaign funding rules.
Ross said: “On the 14th of May this year I attended a dinner with Simon Bridges at the home of a wealthy Chinese businessman.”
He later named Zhang and then tweeted pictures of Bridges and Zhang at the dinner.
Ross said Bridges rang the following week, having been at a fundraiser for National list MP Paul Goldsmith, who lives in the Epsom electorate which includes Zhang’s home.
“He was excited because he was offered a $100,000 donation from the same wealthy Chinese businessman.
“Simon asked me to collect this donation. He was at pains to point out the donation should not be made public and could I ensure this.”
Ross said he did as Bridges asked, splitting the money into chunks smaller than the $15,000 limit at which donations had to be declared.
“The full $100,000 donation has not been disclosed to the Electoral Commission.”
Ross said he recorded a conversation with Bridges on June 20 during which the donation was discussed. The Botany MP said he asked — in the recording — what Bridges wanted done with the money. Ross said he later told a party manager to raise concerns if he believed electoral law had not been complied with.
Bridges denied any breach of the law and accused Ross of lashing out after being exposed as the likely source of an information leak to the media. “I have done absolutely nothing wrong and that will be shown to be the case.”
The announcement with the honour described Zhang as founder and chairman of the Chao Shan General Association, which aims to promote Chinese culture and bridge the cultural gap between east Asian immigrants and New Zealand.
Zhang was said by staff and family to be in China yesterday.