South’s big political donors revealed
A knitwear and thermalwear company, a meatworkers’ union and the South Island’s most powerful man were among the big spenders in the south who donated to political parties in the latest election year.
Data published yesterday revealed the full electoral returns for 2023, showing the full scale of political donations.
It showed that National raised $10.3 million in donations, more than doubling the $4.7m raised by Labour.
ACT raised $4.2m, and the Green Party raised $3.3m.
As party membership declines, political parties are increasingly reliant on donations.
Together, National and ACT raised $14.64m, while Labour and the Greens raised more than $8.08m, demonstrating the fundraising gap between the political left and right.
Here are some of the big-ticket donations from the South Island:
National:
❚ Queenstown’s Christopher and Michaela
Meehan donated the third-highest amount to National, with $103,000
❚ Methven’s Graeme Harrison donated $66,000
❚ Christchurch’s Philip Carter donated $59,000
ACT:
❚ Queenstown company Align Farms Investments Ltd donated $100,000 via John Buchanan
❚ Queenstown’s Neale Underdown donated $100,000
❚ Queenstown company Owens Properties donated two amounts of $25,000 under two different-named donors, via Mark and Maryanne Owens
Greens:
❚ Christchurch business Weft Knitting Company donated the joint first-equal highest amount to the Green Party, with $100,000
❚ Nelson’s Michael Lookman also donated $100,000
Labour:
❚ Dunedin’s Islay Little donated the highest amount to Labour with $110,000
❚ Queenstown’s Richard Hubbard donated the second-highest amount with $100,000
❚ Christchurch group NZ Meat Workers Union donated $35,000
NZ First:
❚ Christchurch company AJR Finance Limited donated $55,000.