Prime Minister John Key's signature on a bottle of pinot earned $25,000 for mayoral candidate and Labour MP Phil Goff, but the PM has no idea how Goff got the bottle.
The bottle of pinot noir was auctioned with another bottle signed by Labour leader Andrew Little at a fundaising dinner for Goff. The lot contributed $25,000 to Goff's campaign.
A spokesman for Key said the Prime Minister had not signed a bottle for Goff's campaign.
"The Prime Minister regularly signs items to be auctioned. He didn't sign a bottle of wine for Mr Goff's campaign on this occasion, therefore it's likely someone re-donated it."
"As the Prime Minister has said, he will have to work constructively with whoever is elected mayor of Auckland and therefore has not endorsed any candidate."