Napier MP Stuart Nash received close to $50,000 in campaign donations last year, including from industry leaders tied to his ministerial portfolios. Photo / NZME
Napier MP Stuart Nash received close to $50,000 in campaign donations last year, including from industry leaders tied to his ministerial portfolios. Photo / NZME
Minister of Forestry and Tourism Stuart Nash received close to $50,000 in campaign donations last year, almost half of which came from forestry and tourism companies.
But the Napier MP says there is no conflict of interest in accepting donations from industries with ties to his ministerial portfolios.
Nash receiveda total of $49,503.80 in donations last year, about $20,000 of which came from forestry-related companies such as Andrew Kelly of LumberLink ($5000), Red Stag Timber ($5000), and Tenon Clearwood ($9503.80).
Nash, who is Tourism Minister too, also received $6500 from SO Capital chief executive Shah Aslam, who is also chief executive of Air Napier.
"I have known MP Nash for a while now and have found him to be a highly engaged and hard-working MP and minister with a clear vision for advancing the local and national economy," Aslam said.
Max Rashbrooke, a Wellington-based author and researcher focused on democracy and economic inequality issues, told Newsroom this week the donations were in his view "concerning" and "inappropriate".
"[It's] concerning if a minister is accepting or has accepted donations from an industry which he is supposed to be regulating," Rashbrooke said.
A spokesperson for Nash said he had met with officials in the Cabinet Office after the election to discuss the management of any potential conflicts of interest.
He continued to ensure no conflict exists or appears to exist, in accordance with the guidance in the Cabinet Manual, the spokesperson said.
"The minister knows the rules and follows the rules. He has been transparent."
Former Labour Party president Mike Williams said: "Nash would be very well aware that these donations are public.
Former Labour Party president Mike Williams was not worried that there was a conflict of interest. Photo / NZME
"Democracy is dependent on donations, sometimes from corporate entities."
Which companies candidates accepted donations from was "a matter of judgment", Williams said.
He pointed to the fact the donations were made before Nash's appointment as Forestry Minister, a role ultimately decided by the Prime Minister.
He said campaign funding in New Zealand was challenging compared with other countries because there was no state funding available.
