Peters rejects Horan claims over race horse ownership

Bellazeel, ridden by Noel Harris, was sired by Zabeel. Photo / Sarah Ivey

NZ First leader says he wasn't required to list stake in mare with property register, and accuser is 'a thoroughly discredited nag'

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is rejecting allegations from a former colleague that he misused party money and failed to declare interests in a successful racehorse.

Independent MP Brendan Horan, who was elected to Parliament as a New Zealand First member, said Mr Peters should reveal his own spending and interests instead of making "spurious allegations" against Justice Minister Judith Collins.

Mr Peters has been attacking Ms Collins in the House for not fully declaring the details of her trip to Beijing in October, but has failed to land the killer blow.

Yesterday, Mr Horan claimed that his former leader should have declared his part-ownership of a 5-year-old mare named Bellazeel in Parliament's register of pecuniary interests.

The horse was sired by famous racehorse Zabeel and has itself claimed more than $20,000 in prizemoney in the past year.

On Tuesday, Mr Horan used parliamentary privilege to accuse Mr Peters of misusing his $2.5 million leader's budget.

Mr Peters, NZ First's racing spokesman and a former Racing Minister, strongly rejected both claims.

"This stupid allegation comes from a thoroughly discredited nag that crashed into the first hurdle," he said.

He believed there was no requirement to declare ownership in a horse, let alone a 10 per cent stake in a syndicate lease of a horse.

The lease, which was bought in a charity auction in 2008, has now expired.

MPs must declare all property, directorships, gifts, shares and other interests in the register each year.

Registrar Sir Maarten Wevers said he had not received complaints on the issue, and it was up to each MP to decide whether or not something fell within the terms of the register.

He said the ownership of racehorses by MPs had been raised with his office previously.

Sir Maarten said racehorses that were held by syndicates needed to be declared, but he did not know the full details of the ownership structure of Bellazeel.

"I would think it would certainly be ... a business entity undertaking ... something for a pecuniary profit. That's what you race a horse for, I presume."

Mr Horan and National MP Chris Tremain have previously disclosed part-ownership of a racehorse in the register.

Mr Peters declared a company directorship, two properties, two blocks of land, a superannuation scheme and overseas travel in the latest returns, which were published last week.