Rotorua MP Todd McClay. Photo / Ben Fraser
Rotorua MPs were given more than $68,000 for their bids to get elected in 2017.
Donation figures released by the Electoral Commission show the National Party's Todd McClay received the most donations of the three Rotorua-based MPs.
McClay received $45,000 in total - $40,000 from the National Party, and $5000 from fisheries company Talley's.
He spent a total of $21,783.71 on his campaign.
When asked if he was comfortable accepting a donation from Talley's, McClay did not answer the question, but said the company donated to many different MPs across several parties.
Talley's gave $49,000 to 10 politicians, including $10,000 to New Zealand First MP Shane Jones, who used to chair Te Ohu Kaimoana (the Maori Fisheries Commission).
In deciding how to spend campaign donations, McClay said he had a strategy that he had used since 2008.
That included "a lot of engagement with people", as well as newspaper and radio advertising.
"It's not just about the three months leading up to the election, it's about the work that's done day in and day out," he said.
Waiariki Labour MP Tamati Coffey received $21,502.71 in donations.
The Labour Party donated $19,502.71 of that, with the remaining $2000 donated by Te Ringahuia Hata.
Coffey said his campaign focus was simple - "get out and meet the people".
"Kanohi ki te kanohi [face to face] – at the netball, the local markets, at the marae, on the doorsteps – and let what the people tell you in terms of the challenges they are facing and the change they'd like to see, help define your priorities. If you put the people first, you can't go wrong."
He said he did not believe many voters would be "shocked" by the Talley's donations.
"And that choice is what makes a democracy brilliant.
"Alternatively, I was proud that Labour, having always been funded by aspirational Kiwis for Kiwis, promised prior to the election that we would legislate to increase the minimum wage to $16.50 an hour from April 1 2018, and introduce legislation to improve fairness in the workplace in our first 100 days and we have delivered.
"I'm sure the Talley's workers and their whanau who voted for a better, fairer New Zealand will be proud of that achievement and those we have in store for the people of the Waiariki in 2018."
New Zealand First list MP Fletcher Tabuteau received $2000 in donations, all of which was donated by Talley's.
He spent $2234.54 on his campaign.
Tabuteau was unavailable to comment yesterday.Talley's did not respond to a request for comment.
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