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The sensitive question of whether to accept or decline New Zealand First's donation of $158,000 has landed some charities in awkward positions - including the Auckland Regional Helicopter Trust.
The Herald this week contacted several charities to ask if they would be prepared to accept the donation that NZ First tried to make to the Starship Foundation last month, only to see it returned because it wasn't viewed as "proper philanthropy".
The money is the amount Auditor-General Kevin Brady found the Winston Peters-led party spent unlawfully in the 2005 election.
One of the charities contacted, the Auckland Regional Helicopter Trust, replied to the Herald yesterday that it relied on the community for around 80 per cent of its funding.
"There would have to be a very good reason for us not to accept a donation of that magnitude," the spokesperson's email said.
But high-profile trust board member Michelle Boag - a public relations expert and former National Party president - later said the issue would have to be considered by the board should it come up.
"The board has not discussed it, and it certainly has not been offered to us," she said.
"It would be premature to say we would accept it, because it would be a board decision."
New Zealand First will consider what to do with the money at a board meeting next month.
Several charities contacted by the Herald have said they would accept the donation and see no ethical reason not to. Others have been adamant they would not.
NZ First would likely be entitled to claim a tax rebate on a donation if it opts to give the money to another charity, but a spokesman said the party would not make such a claim.
