NZ First Leader Winston Peters remains steadfast in his defence, telling media at Parliament any notion of wrongdoing by NZ First was "fake news". Video / Jason Walls
A horse stud owner has been revealed as one of the donors to a mysterious foundation linked to NZ First.
But he told the Herald he made it clear that the money was meant for the party's election campaign.
At least $80,000 of donations to the secretive New Zealand First Foundation came from the racing industry, while more than $40,000 came from a property mogul, according to reporting by Stuff.
NZ First is accused of using the foundation to hide nearly $500,000 in political donations without disclosing them to the Electoral Commission, which may be a breach of electoral law.
Among the racing industry donors whose money went to the foundation was Waikato Stud owner Garry Chittick.
Waikato Stud owner Garry Chittick - pictured with wife Mary after a win in 2014 - says his $5000 donation was intended for NZ First's reelection campaign. Photo / File
Chittick did not recall whether the money had been given to the NZ First Foundation but was clear he would only have donated if the money was intended to help the NZ First party.
"Of course it was. There's no way in the world I would have donated for anything else - I clearly believed I was helping NZ First get in because of what he did for racing."
Chittick said he had no regrets about donating the money.
"NZ First has done a great deal for racing, which is fantastic. But I regret they ran with a party I didn't believe they should have," he said, adding in his view they were "obligated" to enter a coalition with National which had received a higher portion of the vote.
Several donors spoken to by Stuff said they had believed they were donating to the political party rather than the foundation.
Political commentator and public relations consultant and lobbyist Matthew Hooton told Newstalk ZB his company, Exceltium PR, gave $10,000 to "either the New Zealand First Party or the foundation – I'm not sure who it was".
Deputy Prime Minister and NZ First leader Winston Peters has previously called claims about the foundation "baseless" and said the party had always complied with electoral law.
He said NZ First officials would happily talk to the Electoral Commission - but Act's David Seymour has suggested he may report the foundation to the police.
The foundation was founded by a group of lawyers including Peters' personal lawyer Brian Henry, while NZ First's founding president Doug Woolerton is a trustee.
However, Stuff reported this morning that NZ First list MP Clayton Mitchell has been repeatedly named by sources as asking for donations for the party - but giving out the NZ First Foundation's bank account.
Mitchell has gone to ground, and won't respond to the Herald's requests for comment this morning.
It also reported the biggest donor to the NZ First-linked fund was Conrad Properties Ltd.
The company and entities connected to it had given $42,500 to the foundation since 2017.
The company's director said Conrad Properties donated lots of money to different causes and had not thought about where money donated to political parties went.
But when contacted this morning, a spokeswoman for Conrad Properties Group told the Herald the company had no comment before abruptly hanging up.
NZ First list MP Clayton Mitchell reportedly solicited donations for NZ First but gave some donors the NZ First Foundation's bank account to put the money into. File photo / George Novak
Another donor had manuka honey connections.Under electoral law, for donations taken directly by parties, the party must keep records of donors giving between $1500 and $15,000 but only donors who give more than $15,000 must be publicly disclosed.
NZ First has not disclosed any donations over $15,000 since 2008.
The NZ First Foundation is alleged to have received 41 donations worth over $5000 between April 23, 2017, and April 5, 2019, which were kept secret from party officials.
