AG asked to probe Manea

The auditor-general has been asked to investigate Shane Jones’ role into the approving of funding for a Northland cultural centre, having earlier declared a conflict of interest.

An all-weather cultural and tourism facility planned for Opononi, Manea, Footprints Of Kupe was among the first group of projects awarded funding from the Provincial Growth Fund in February last year.

Documents show Jones, the Provincial Development Minister, sat in on a funding meeting where a group of Cabinet colleagues approved up to $4.6 million in funding from the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF), providing reassurances about the governance of the plan.

Jones had earlier declared a conflict of interest in the plan, which he said related to work he had done as a Labour MP. On Friday, he said he had been aware of documents from 2014 that showed he was proposed to be a director of an entity that was to facilitate the project.

He described the documents as ‘‘wishful thinking on the part of the people of Hokianga’’, and that he was never appointed to any entity and was not going to be. He told Stuff that by disclosing his conflict he had dealt with the issue.

But ACT leader David Seymour, said Jones should be sacked as a minister by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. He has written to Auditor-General Greg Schollum asking for him to investigate Jones’ role. ‘‘Shane Jones has failed to conduct himself in a manner appropriate for a minister responsible for $3 billion of taxpayer money.

The question of Jones’ presence at the Manea funding meeting was raised with the prime minister’s office on Friday.

Last night, a staffer provided a one-line statement: ‘‘Hon Jones declared his conflict of interest in this project up front, to both the cabinet office and his fellow PGF ministers.’’