The Electoral Commission would like the Government to consider giving it greater powers, chairwoman Marie Shroff said at Parliament today.
But the commission will not reveal any details of its current investigation into the New Zealand First Foundation, a vehicle which allows New Zealand First to keep the original source of its donations confidential.
Shroff, a former Cabinet secretary, and former Privacy Commissioner, appeared with chief executive Alicia Wright before the justice select committee for its regular annual review.
"The investigative powers attracted my attention," she told reporters afterwards "because as Privacy Commissioner I did have the power to require documents and to require attendance and I was a little surprised to find that the Electoral Commission Board doesn't have those powers."
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