Salary tithe puts Greens top of big donations list

Greens co-leader Metiria Turei. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The Greens were apparently the recipients of more big political donations than any other party last year as disclosure requirements captured the portion of its MPs' salaries they donate to the party.

Elections NZ Party Donations data for 2009 published yesterday showed the Greens received almost $150,000 of donations from nine donors whose individual contributions exceeded the $10,000 level at which they must be disclosed under current electoral finance law.

Labour, Act and Jim Anderton's Progressive Party each reported a single donation in excess of $10,000 while the National Party reported no donations above that level.

Greens co-leader Metiria Turei said all Green MPs gave 10 per cent of their gross income to the party. That accounted for all but $19,500 of the total of $147, 462 reported.

She said it was "curious" National's disclosures hadn't shown anything.

The National Party's acting general manager Mark Oldershaw said this reflected its strategy to raise smaller amounts from a wider group.

"It's a sign of the times as much as anything. People's cash positions are such that we've just had to work twice as hard to get close or slightly below our normal donations for the year."

Similarly, Labour Party general secretary Chris Flatt said none of the donations it received exceeded the $10,000 level, bar the $10,063 received from party leader Phil Goff.

Other Labour MPs donated money but not enough to require disclosure.