Mayor forced to name six donors
Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel has revealed the identities of six donors who funded her 2019 election campaign, after initially declaring her husband was the only donor. They include her lawyer husband Rob Davidson’s China-based business partner, and a businessman who has property interests in Christchurch and owns a Chinese-speaking newspaper in New Zealand. One donated $17,850 – more than 11 times the $1500 limit that must be declared under the Local Electoral Act.
It remains unclear what, if any, repercussions Dalziel will face for the late declarations.
Dalziel came under fire from mayoral rival John Minto for a lack of transparency about her election campaign fundraising dinner held at Southern Asian Restaurant in Colombo St in July. The event raised just over
$40,000. Yet her electoral return, due last Friday, listed Davidson as the only donor from the event. Dalziel updated her return yesterday afternoon to add the following names:
■ Wei Min Lu ($17,850). A Chinese national living in Guangzhou, Lu is listed as a codirector with Davidson at two companies, HWD Investment and Sing Wei Developments, both registered at Davidson’s law firm’s address.
■ Yong Chen ($3920).
■ Zhe Cheng Tan ($2800).
■ Jiang Ping Wang ($2350). Known as ‘‘JP’’, Wang has New Zealand business interests in property development, construction, water bottling, language education and tourism, and was previously a business partner of former mayor Bob Parker.
■ Grandland Investment Ltd ($2950).
■ Yang Xia Wu ($1750). Their donations total $31,620. Dalziel said she was initially acting on Davidson’s advice that none of the donors paid over
$1500 more than the ‘‘market value’’ of the auctioned items, which he donated, therefore they could remain anonymous.
Davidson had since advised her to include the donors ‘‘after taking additional advice’’ about the law. Failure to declare expenses ‘‘without reasonable excuse’’ can lead to a fine of up to $1000. Christchurch electoral officer Jo Daly said she had received Dalziel’s resubmitted
return, and any matters arising would be investigated as required.
One source with long local body experience said some campaign donors, especially from certain countries, were often looking for favours in business deals, resource consent bids or citizenship applications, either for themselves or others.
The source said some donors had ‘‘big agendas’’.
A recent report by Parliament’s justice select committee has urged local councils to be vigilant about foreign interference in elections.
Minto said the big sums paid by donors for bottles of wine were ‘‘eye watering’’. ‘‘And then to list it all as a donation from her husband, it beggars belief. It is just not credible that she did not know about these large donations. She has done a lot of campaigns and is a very experienced politician.’’
Minto said voters had a right to know who bankrolled campaigns. ‘‘It seems that by putting it down to her husband, she was leaving herself some wriggle room. It makes a mockery of the democratic process. She is starting to lose a huge amount of credibility in the community,’’ Minto said.
Dalziel said she had taken a ‘‘highly conservative view’’ of market value and declared the difference. ‘‘I based my original declaration on my husband’s advice.’’
Political and legal commentator Professor Andrew Geddis previously said fundraiser auctions were commonly used by election campaign candidates and political parties as a way to raise funds and keep donors anonymous.
The Local Electoral Act also requires that candidates must disclose the full name and address of donors who contribute more than $1500.
However, Dalziel’s return lists only the suburb or city and other details are redacted.
Kar Bin (Allan) Chan, who donated $4900 during Dalziel’s
2013 campaign dinner and auction fundraiser, said he attended the July event and paid
$3000 for a 30-year-old bottle of wine. Chan did not appear on Dalziel’s updated list of donors.
However, Dalziel said that item was paid for by Zhe Cheng Tan and had been declared.
Local Government NZ principal policy adviser Mike Reid said he suspected missing the deadline to name donors would be considered a minor breach.