The Media Party Radio New Zealand branch has run another something-nothing hit job by the pro tempore leader Guyon Espiner. This time it is against Talley’s and NZ First.
One of the country’s biggest fishing companies, Talley’s, and its managing director donated nearly $27,000 to the New Zealand First Foundation, which has been bankrolling the New Zealand First Party.
The foundation received $26,950 from seafood giant Talley’s and from managing director Sir Peter Talley between 2017 and 2019, according to records viewed by RNZ.
It received the money from Talley’s in four amounts – all of which were below the threshold for public disclosure and so have not been publicly revealed until now.
Not disclosed until now? That’s because there is no legal requirement to disclose. It is $26950 over a three year period, well below the threshold for any declaration. Talk about a nothing story.
It isn’t nothing, however, because this looks like a continuation of the ongoing political hit job by the Media Party to try and dry up donations to NZ First.
Again, the Radio New Zealand branch has used stolen documents obtained from Lester Grey.
Greenpeace was concerned by the donations and believed the New Zealand First Party had too much sway over fishing policy and the party was too close to the industry.
Greenpeace executive director Russell Norman called on Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to review key fishing policy decisions, which he said were favourable to the seafood industry, in light of the donation revelations.
“I think it’s essential that the Prime Minister … reassure herself about the integrity of the decision-making process of her government,” Norman said.
“I would also strongly urge her, going forward, to ensure that New Zealand First are not involved in any of the decision-making around fishing and oceans policy, just to protect the reputation of her government.”
A Radio Station
I wonder if Russel also has concerns about the Greens taking E Tu union money and having input on industrial relations laws?
Yeah, didn’t think so.
On 4 April, 2019, Talley’s deposited $2500 into the foundation bank account. The next day Peter Talley personally made a $15,000 donation – one cent under the level at which donations are made public.
Talley’s followed that up with a “fast deposit” of $2000 on 29 July, 2019.
Talley’s also donated to the Foundation during the 2017 election year, making a donation of $7450 on 25 May, 2017.
As well as donating to the foundation, Talley’s made a $10,000 candidate donation to NZ First Cabinet Minister Shane Jones in 2017 and another $2000 donation to fellow NZ First MP Fletcher Tabuteau. Those donations were declared.
Talley’s donated a total of $40,000 to eight other candidates during the 2017 election campaign – seven from the National Party and one from Labour – giving each of them $5000. All eight donations were disclosed by the respective candidates.
Peter Talley refused to comment when contacted by RNZ.
I bet Peter Talley actually invited Guyon Espiner to engage in sex and travel. Why should he talk to them when not a single one of those donations breached any threshold for declaration. This is nothing other than prurient panty-sniffing by Guyon Espiner.
Ironically, for Radio New Zealand and the Media Party in general, this is all good for NZ First fundraising. It shows their donors get great outcomes from their donations! The Chinese can’t get a look in though as NZ First won’t take Chinese money, unlike National which is awash with it.
Maybe we do need a “Norman Standard” for political donations. Get parties to agree not to take donations from people they will be legislating or regulating and ask the Greens to lead the way.
While The Media Party is busily sticking their nose into NZ First donations they studiously ignore the obvious quid pro quo with union donations to the Greens and Labour. Industrial relations changes and removal of Charter Schools are but two clear examples.
The Media party are trying very hard to destroy NZ First, but I think the opposite is happening. People are wising up to this wonky jihad and starting to understand that people like Guyon Espiner want to be players on the political game board without actually seeking a mandate from voters.
