The Green Party has ramped up calls for reform of the political donation regime, saying the more than $3.5 million the National Party received in anonymous donations in 2017 shows the need for transparency.
"$3.5 million in anonymous donations is a huge sum of money. It is unlikely this is made up of coins or small notes dropped in a bucket or given at a bake sale," Greens co-leader Marama Davidson said today.
"This spells out powerful vested interests tipping huge amounts of money into the coffers of the National Party, hiding behind anonymity."
Davidson said it was impossible to know who was influencing New Zealand's politicians and Parliament was "ripe for influence by big corporations, and potentially corruption".
"It needs to end. After this past few weeks it is clearer than ever that New Zealanders want big money out of politics. It is time for our Parliament to be returned to the community," she said in a statement.
Only donations under $1000 should be anonymous, Davidson said.
"This means that small donations at local fundraisers aren't mired with red tape, but also means politicians will find it much harder to hide donations from powerful vested interests."
The Greens have called for other changes too, including capping individual donations at $35,000, banning overseas donations and increasing taxpayer funding for campaigning.
Currently, donors who give more than $15,000 have to be named, as do those who give more than $1500 to a candidate.
