Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he's not concerned about the 1News Verian poll results. Video / Mark Mitchell
The National Party has disclosed a massive $10.4 million in donations in its election-year haul for 2023, more than double the amount declared by any other party and believed to be the most taken in one year.
The Electoral Commission has released the political parties’ annual donations returns today, including donors of more than $5000 and the sum of smaller donations. Parties only have to disclose donations of more than $20,000 immediately.
National’s war chest totalled $10.4m, while Labour raised less than half of that with $4.8m. The Act Party declared $4.3m, the Green Party $3.3m and NZ First $1.8m.
Te Pāti Māori disclosed $161,000 — by far the least of any of the parties in Parliament. Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere was the party’s biggest donor, giving $50,000.
National’s $10.4m haul followed it receiving $5m in 2022 – the record for any year at the time – after securing several large donations from rich-listers and businesses.
The donation disclosure thresholds have been lowered since the last election, so political parties have to disclose donors of more than $5000 (previously it was $15,000). They must also reveal how much they earned in total in donations of less than $5000.
National Party
National’s return showed it got $6m in donations of less than $5000 and a further $4m in donations of more than $5000. It also took in $363,000 as donations protected from disclosure – donations which are sent to the Electoral Commission to pass on to the parties without telling them who the donors are.
The returns show National returned its second-highest donation of $200,000 to Buen Holdings Limited on August 23 last year, one day after a Newsroom article linked the donor to a migrant hostel being investigated by Auckland Council and Tenancy Services after complaints the site was being used unlawfully.
National Party president Sylvia Wood said in a statement it was “prudent” to return the Buen Holdings donation after the party learned of the investigation.
Regarding the overall level of donations, Wood said the party was grateful and noted the average donation amount was $136.
According to the returns, the donation was made on July 10 last year and returned about six weeks later.
Among National’s previously undisclosed donors were $18,950 from Auckland businessman Leo Molloy, $13,500 from Rod Drury, and $11,600 from former MP Hamish Walker.
It got $20,000 from AJR Finance, which has also donated to NZ First and whose director has links to a quarrying company that was among those sent letters about the Government’s proposed fast-track consenting process.
Hamilton-based Montana Catering donated $17,848.80 across nine instalments from January to October last year.
In March, BusinessDesk reported Montana Catering as one of the businesses involved in the Ka Ora, Ka Ako school lunch programme - the same programme that Act minister David Seymour intends to reduce funding for.
Montana Catering, which delivered lunches to 31 schools in the Auckland and Waikato regions, reportedly received about $48m, or 8 per cent of total external funding since 2021, the second highest amount behind Libelle Group.
Other large donors included rich-lister property developer Trevor Farmer ($50,000), Christopher & Banks LTD ($100,000) – a company directed by Christopher Huljich, and philanthropists Brendan and Jo Lindsay ($100,000).
Farmer had also given $200,000 to the Act Party and a further $50,000 to NZ First.
Seymour had said at the time that the value of the lease of the plane for the occasions it was used would be disclosed as a donation in the annual returns. Its return also includes $18,000 from Pavlovich Coachlines, which provided the large pink bus Act used. Bernard Pavlovich also made separate financial donations totalling $6,000.
Parties have to disclose donations of goods and services as well as money.
26 September 2023
ACT Party leader David Seymour boards 'Flying Pinky' in Rotorua.
Photo / Mike Scott.
Act’s newly disclosed donors include sailing giant Sir Russell Coutts ($11,000), Wellington-based Caniwi Capital founder Troy Bowker ($15,000),
It has already disclosed donations from a number of rich listers – including Graeme Hart, Trevor Farmer, Align Farm Investments, Peter Huljich’s Christopher and Banks, Murray Chandler David Richwhite and Neale Underdown. Its largest donation was from regular Act backer, Dame Jenny Gibbs ($155,000).
Labour Party
Labour’s total included tens of thousands of dollars in fortnightly donations from its own MPs.
Over 2023, former prime minister and Labour leader Dame Jacinda Ardern made regular donations worth $13,954.
Current leader Chris Hipkins donated $22,790, while deputy Carmel Sepuloni donated $14,336.82. The rest of the caucus donated between $5000 and $12,000.
Artist Dick Frizzell gave $13,850 – likely the donation of an artwork for Labour’s fundraising art auction.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins donated $22,790 to his own party last year. Photo / Alex Burton
Property developer Mark Todd gave $50,000 and gym entrepreneur Phillip Mills gave $50,000.
Former MP Pete Hodgson chipped in $24,912, while former prime minister Helen Clark gave $11,200.
Labour general secretary Rob Salmond said it was not surprising parties were reporting higher levels of donations than in previous years, given the change to the disclosure threshold.
“Labour attracted a higher number of donations than any other party, receiving for example over 52,000 smaller donations compared to National’s 44,000.
“National raised more than twice as much money as Labour despite having fewer donations, which is no surprise when their policies favour the already well-off over those doing it tough.”
NZ First
NZ First received $200,000 from Richlister property developer Mark Wyborn gave $200,000 across three instalments, the party’s highest donation.
A total of $182,167 came from the estate of Hugh Barr, an environmentalist and tramper who died in 2021.
Vlad Barbalich, a Wellington property developer who formerly supported and helped fund defunct political party Democracy NZ, gave $145,000.
Billionaire Graeme Hart’s Rank Group Limited contributed $110,000 in two separate donations.
Andrew Krukziener, of Krukziener Properties, donated $19,999 in December after NZ First returned to Government. Given his donation was under $20,000, it wasn’t publicly disclosed when it was donated.
Former Labour minister Clayton Cosgrove donated $6000 through his company, Cosgrove and Partners Ltd.
Green Party
The Greens recorded regular tithes from MPs, with most giving close to $20,000, while the co-leaders gave close to $30,000.
Titanic and Avatar director James Cameron and wife, actor Suzy Cameron, gave $50,000. Mark Todd and Phillip Mills, who also donated to Labour, gave $20,000 and $50,000 respectively.
