Whistleblower says Wong used Cabinet rank on trip

Pansy Wong. Photo / Paul Estcourt

The Rotorua businessman who blew the whistle on Cabinet minister Pansy Wong says there is more to the resignation saga than the controversy over who paid for a trip she and her husband took to China.

But Stephen Preest is still disappointed that the MP's husband did not do more to help him in a business dispute with a Chinese investor.

In 2008, Mrs Wong's husband, Sammy Wong, helped broker a deal between Mr Preest and Auckland businessman Terry Yang which involved moving Mr Preest's hovercraft company to China. Mr Wong is a shareholder in the joint venture. But the deal went sour and Mr Preest is suing Mr Yang in China.

Mr Wong told the Herald that in hindsight it was foolish to involve his wife - the only reason she came to China to visit the company was because he spent so much time there.

But Mr Preest said yesterday that Mrs Wong's involvement was far greater than just witnessing official documents related to the deal.

He said she visited the company twice, and made it clear she was there as a Government minister.