Tamihere defends use
Māori Party president John Tamihere is defending his charities’ funding of his political campaigns.
Charities Services general manager Natasha Weight said it was investigating Te Whānau Waipareira Trust and the National Urban Māori Authority for their funding, endorsements and loans given to two of Tamihere’s political campaigns. Tamihere was chief executive of both charities.
Charities that Tamihere leads have officially endorsed his political campaigns, and provided him loans for his campaigns with the Māori Party and to be Auckland’s mayor.
The loans, endorsements and ‘‘sponsorship payments’’ have come despite Charities Services warning charities not to support particular political parties.
In total, close to $500,000 has changed hands in interest-free loans or payments from the charities for Tamihere’s political campaigns. Asked yesterday if any of the loans had been repaid, he said it was a ‘‘private matter’’ which he would not comment on.
Tamihere says his charities have been more transparent than other charities, who implicitly support political parties. And he says, in a free democracy, charities should be able to back political candidates.
‘‘It is a sad day for democracy in Aotearoa when Māori get demonised for being honest in publicly ensuring that every cent spent is to advance the Te Pāti Māori,’’ he said.
Charity Services rules state that a charity cannot be established to support political parties and candidates. Charities can be set up to provide specific community services, and in return receive