The National Party coffers have been given a $60,000 top-up from Waikato-based Gallagher Group, adding to the $86,000 the agribusiness and security company donated in 2011.
The National Party disclosed the donation made in late November under rules requiring donations of more than $30,000 to be disclosed within 10 working days. It is the first such major donation since last year's election.
The family owned company also donated a total of $45,000 to Act in 2013 and 2014. Its chief executive Sir William Gallagher was knighted in 2010. The company regularly takes part in the Government's trade delegations overseas. It was also praised by ministers in the former Labour Government as an example of a New Zealand business using innovation to get into international markets.
The Gallagher Group was founded in 1938 and its initial success was in electric fences. It has since branched out into security systems. The Gallagher family features on the NBR Rich List with an estimated worth of $180 million.
Although the Labour Party reported an influx of donations after the Herald revealed its financial woes, so far it has not declared any above the $30,000 threshold for immediate disclosure. Financial records obtained by the Herald had shown it had run in deficit for the past two years, forcing it to dip into its cash reserves and reducing its net assets to $200,000. Political parties are required to disclose any donations of more than $15,000 on an annual basis as well as the total value and number of donations between $1500 and $15,000.
