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The Herald yesterday asked people on the streets of central Tauranga for their opinion on billionaire Owen Glenn's statement that New Zealand First leader Winston Peters asked him for a $100,000 donation, and Mr Peters' denial to the contrary.
The people spoken to were asked the question, "Do you believe Winston Peters or Owen Glenn?" With only one exception - a man who said he thought they were both telling their own version of the truth - all believed Mr Glenn's story and not Mr Peters'.
JOHN BUDDEN, OVER 60, PUBLIC SERVANT
"Mr Winston Peters has been sailing close to the wind for many years. He's bluffed and blustered his way through things as a member of Parliament, and he uses the law to his advantage. I'd tend to believe Mr Glenn first. If you give $100,000 away, you certainly know who you're giving it to."
SUE BACON, 59, TRUST MANAGER
"I believe Owen. He has no reason to be lying. It's time [for Mr Peters] to go. It's time that he admitted the truth and stood down. I was always very dubious about his actions, despite the fact he has done Tauranga a lot of good."
IAN ANDERSON, 60, PHOTOGRAPHER
"It's his [Mr Peters'] end. I think at last he's shot himself in the foot, although if you look at his track record over the last few years, somehow he's been able to get out of it. But this time, I think the writing's on the wall. How can you trust him when there's so much denial? Why the denial? What's he hiding?"
TONY CHARTERIS, 31, BANK CUSTOMER SERVICES
"Over the years Winston Peters hasn't changed. He's still telling the same stories. I'd probably believe Owen Glenn over Winston Peters. It's happened so many times in the past."
ANN BOSTOCK, 65, CATERER
"I just don't believe anything he [Mr Peters] says. I'm not surprised [about his denial of Mr Glenn's statement]. To be perfectly honest, I just don't find anything he says truthful. It [dishonesty] catches up with you. He's never had any credibility with me."
RAMSAY MUIR, 58, ORCHARDIST
"I probably believe them both. I think if they got together, they would both say similar things. I don't think Winston tells black lies. I think they're little sideshows. He [Mr Glenn] would be wise to trap Winston, but I think he's quite untrappable. He's quite capable of making a sideshow last for a long time."
