Winston Peters tells Prime Minister law not broken

Independent Tauranga Candidate Gray Eatwell say’s Winston Peters should stop biting the hands that have fed him and face up to the truth.

The Prime Minister’s continued acceptance of Winston Peters claim of compliance to the law defies the known facts relating to political donations made to NZ First.

Mr. Peters accusations about the state of Sir Robert Jones’s memory are totally irrelevant given the indisputable facts that exist relating to donations he made to NZ First that have not been declared under conditions of Electoral law.

Some know facts;

* Sir Robert Jones agreed to pay NZ First $25,000 in 2005.
* The donation was given specifically for NZ First 2005 election expenses.
* A NZ First official or staff member gave Jones staff instructions to make the cheque out payable to Spencer Trust.
* The Spencer Trust is administered by Winston Peters brother.
* Sir Robert has declared that he no longer supports the NZ first party.
* NZ first did not declare the donation in its statutory declaration required under the Electoral Act.
* Falsification of a disclosure statement under the Act constitutes a “corrupt practice”.
* Owen Glenn believes he made a donation to NZ First.
* NZ First party president knew of a large party donation in December 2007.
* Donations were made specifically for the benefit of the NZ First party.

The Electoral Commission states that, “An electoral MP that is convicted of a corrupt practice or proved guilty of a corrupt practice in the trial of an election petition, will also lose their seat (section 55 of the Electoral Act 1993).”

Mr. Eatwell said today, “Given the raft of evidence coming forward that proves NZ First has falsified financial returns to the Electoral Commission, it appears that the Prime Minister and Winston Peters believe that if you don’t get caught you haven’t broken the law.”

“It is a serious matter for the future of New Zealand’s democracy if that is the case.”