National triples Labour’s donations

NATIONAL received almost $4.6 million in donations in the lead up to the last election – three times more money than it was allowed to spend in the campaign.

The party’s donations outstripped Labour’s donations, which came in at $1.6m, and Gareth Morgan’s Opportunities Party, which received $2.3m – almost all of it from Morgan himself.

Soon after the election, all parties had to disclose any donations exceeding $30,000. However, the full list of donations has now been released, showing the National Party was by far the biggest recipient in the lead up to the election.

It received a one-off $150,000 donation from a company called Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry. The company, founded by fast food mogul Lang Lin, has sent 1200 New Zealand racehorses to China to race and breed, including New Zealand horse of the year and derby winner Mongolian Khan.

National also received a $100,000 donation from Auckland-based company Alpha Laboratories, and four separate donations totalling $19,770 from Alpha health care, which is also an Auckland-based company but with different shareholders.

Long-time ACT and National Party donor Lianna Hagaman donated a total of $28,765.75, spread across four donations. Lianna (Lani) Hagaman is the wife and business partner of the lateChristchurch rich-lister Earl Hagaman, who was also a longtime political donor.

Business media rich-lister