Call for police to investigate offer to Maori Party

An offer of $250,000 from a secret donor to the Maori Party if it agreed to support Labour was almost certainly illegal and should be investigated by police, a legal expert says.

Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia yesterday revealed the party had been offered the cash from a wealthy overseas-based individual, through a third party, in the lead up to the election.

She would not reveal his identity.

Police have said they will not investigate the offer without a formal complaint.

But Auckland University law professor Bill Hodge today said the offer appeared to fall clearly within the Crimes Act definition of bribery and corruption and police should investigate immediately.

A section of the Crimes Act says people should not offer money to MPs in an attempt to influence their actions.

"It's pretty squarely in that section. I wouldn't be surprised really, if on further reflection, the police do pay a visit to Tariana Turia and say 'who offered you the bribe?'," Prof Hodge said on National Radio.

"I think there's enough of a prima facie case -- she's already given us a prima facie case. I think there's more than enough for police to go and make their inquiries."

Prof Hodge said it sounded as if someone was trying to "buy the government" and he believed the case was the most serious to emerge from fracas surrounding parties' funding and spending in relation to last year's election.

An Electoral Commission spokesman said the offer did not break any provisions of the Electoral Act.

A police spokesman reiterated police would not look into the matter unless there was a formal complaint and sufficient evidence to back it up.

- NZPA