KEY POINTS:
The Spencer Trust has formally complained to the Serious Fraud Office about the investigation it has launched into the affairs of the trust and donations to New Zealand First, which it says was done without any prior contact with the trust. It called on the SFO to promptly clear it.
One of the trustees, Whangarei lawyer Grant Currie, yesterday wrote to SFO director Grant Liddell saying there was "no justification for unleashing the most powerful agency in New Zealand" upon the trust.
Had the agency made the most elementary inquiries of the Spencer Trust in the preliminary period the trustees could have shown that they were discharging their duties.
"Taxpayers would not have been put to the expense of this investigation and responsible professional people would not have had their integrity called into question."
Mr Currie said Sir Robert Jones was invited to contact the trust with any questions but had never done so.
"I am left, then, with the conclusion that you have launched the investigation against the Spencer Trust solely based on the complaint and allegations of [Act leader] Rodney Hide, a man who has no knowledge of the affairs of the trust and a man who has obvious political motivation."
Mr Liddell said last night the investigation was proceeding expeditiously and could not be accelerated by public comment.
