KEY POINTS:
Winston Peters' New Zealand First party got a $15,000 donation from a pokies trust the same year the trust became the subject of a major Serious Fraud Office probe.
The 2002 election year donation was from the GoldTimes trust, which was then under SFO investigation for its part in the alleged fraud at the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust.
GoldTimes has since shut down, but former trustee Malcolm Beattie said he had checked after the recent controversy about the Spencer Trust and donations intended for Mr Peters and New Zealand First and found "the cheque was made out to New Zealand First".
Asked why GoldTimes had given money, Mr Beattie said it was because one of its trustees, Wayne Porter, "had always been a supporter of Winston".
"I don't think [Mr Porter] was a mate of his, he just liked his attitude, that's why," Mr Beattie said.
The $15,000 was declared to the Electoral Commission, as is required with all donations over $10,000.
Mr Beattie also recalled another donation of $10,000, but as this was not declared, it may have been less than that sum.
It was then lawful for gaming machine proceeds to be given for political party purposes. This clause was removed when the law was changed in 2003 and it was instead made explicit that electioneering purposes were not allowed.
The SFO investigation into the helicopter trust became public in February 2002, with the link to GoldTimes revealed in the Weekend Herald that March. It was alleged that a "money-go-round" saw pub poker machine proceeds go through GoldTimes to the helicopter trust as charity then back to the pubs again through advertising payments.
Mr Beattie, Mr Porter, another GoldTimes trustee Peter Pharo and secretary Tom Romley were charged with conspiracy to defraud but all were acquitted in October 2005.
Mr Porter is in France and could not be reached for comment, but Mr Pharo recalled meeting Mr Peters "three or four times", mainly at social functions.
"I wouldn't say I know him. We went out on a boat when the America's Cup was on," Mr Pharo said.
New Zealand First spokesman Frank Perry said he would not bother Mr Peters with Weekend Herald questions about the GoldTimes donations.
"You are just trying to link New Zealand First to something shonky. We're not going to be drawn into it," Mr Perry said.
The SFO is assessing a complaint from Act leader Rodney Hide about what happened to donations intended for Mr Peters and New Zealand First made by billionaire Owen Glenn, fishing and bloodstock millionaires Philip and Peter Vela and property magnate Sir Robert Jones, who made his $25,000 cheque out to the Spencer Trust.
Meanwhile, millionaire Sir Roger Bhatnagar, a friend of Mr Peters, said he had never donated money to him or New Zealand First. Sir Roger, who made his fortune through the Noel Leeming appliance stores, said he had only ever given to "National, Labour and Rodney Hide".
