Attack, they say, is the best form of defence.After making a second amendment to his own pecuniary interest declarations, Attorney-General Chris Finlayson's office has drawn media attention to the slips of others over the last five years.All up, a total 1
Attack, they say, is the best form of defence.
After making a second amendment to his own pecuniary interest declarations, Attorney-General Chris Finlayson’s office has drawn media attention to the slips of others over the last five years.
All up, a total 14 MPs can be named and shamed – with some omissions more exotic than others.
In the year ended January 31, 2010, Speaker Lockwood Smith was honoured with a kilt from a visiting Scottish parliamentarian and a crystal vase from Japan, both of which he failed to declare.
Trade Minister Tim Groser failed to declare his directorship of the trade promotion group Indian Overseas Group in 2008, and Environment Minister Nick Smith omitted to mention legal fee contributions.
In the same year, National whip Chris Tremain omitted interests in investment companies Sunset Investment Partnership and the Provincial Club, while Labour MP Damien O’Connor left out two community health trusts seeking government funding.
Labour’s Chris Carter was stung again for overseas travel costs, as were Maori Party MPs Te Ururoa Flavell, Tariana Turia and Hone Harawira, including an appearance on a Malaysian current affairs show.
Failure to declare KiwiSaver superannuation interests hit MPs from across the political spectrum.
Even Prime Minister John Key is not exempt. In 2007, 2008 and 2009, Mr Key failed to declare interests in gold mining company Jackson Minerals, as brought to light on the Q+A TV programme in February.
And, of course, former NZ First leader Winston Peters famously forgot to declare campaign donations from philanthropist Owen Glenn and the Spencer Trust.
Leader of the house Gerry Brownlee was remarkably prescient yesterday, suggesting to the Speaker that matters relating to pecuniary interests “could return to the floor of the House on a regular basis in the weeks ahead."
He asked that more clarity on the differences between interests and pecuniary interests be provided to members.
A spokesperson for Mr Finlayson said the information released was all in the public domain already and was collated and sent out in response to media enquiries.
