The donations returns of political candidates reveal the group, which is a strong advocate for roading and trucking, gave $5000 each to nine MPs from both Labour and National.
Its chief executive, Tony Friedlander said the group had also donated $30,000 to the National Party and $20,000 to the Labour Party, making its total donations $95,000.
Mr Friedlander said donations were offered to a range of candidates from different parties spread throughout the country.
"It's getting one [MP] in each of the different parts of the country so that our members in that area can go and talk to them about issues that affect our industry.
It's simply assisting the democratic process: our people like to talk to MPs, so from time to time we feel we should make contributions to their campaigns."
The group mounted the truckies' rally last year to protest against increases in road user charges.
Mr Friedlander said the money was not tied to any policy expectations.
"We simply want to ensure we can talk to senior members of all the political parties, as do a range of other companies and sectors."
Also yesterday, Fletcher Building confirmed it had donated $20,000 to each of National, Labour and the Maori Party.
Although party returns are not due until the end of the month, the donation to the Maori Party was discovered when it was mistakenly included in co-leader Pita Sharples' candidate return.
While the company has donated to both National and Labour before, spokesman Phillip King said it included the Maori Party in 2008 "because they are a credible political force. And they asked".
Those who declared donations of $5000 from the Road Transport Forum were National's Tau Henare, Eric Roy, Nick Smith, Anne Tolley and Chris Tremain, and Labour MPs Shane Jones, Trevor Mallard, Damien O'Connor and David Parker.
Mr Parker, Labour's spokesman on climate change, said as long as the donation was transparent he saw no reason to refuse it.
"I don't know their reasons for donating. But they know that I stand for emissions pricing in transport, so I don't think you could make any suggestions that it is policy being bought."
Under the new disclosure rules introduced under the Electoral Finance Act, candidates have to disclose all donations of money, goods or services worth more than $1000 and cannot accept anonymous donations of more than $1000.
A mystery entity called Toorak Chambers also gave $3000 each to National MPs Simon Bridges, David Bennett, Todd McLay, and Lindsay Tisch.
When questioned, one of the recipients said it was linked to the National Party and referred the Herald to the party's headquarters.
However, phone calls to general manager Mike Oldershaw and president Judy Kirk were not returned.
The returns reveal the fishing industry also supported various candidates.
Peter Talley gave $10,000 to Shane Jones and Talleys also gave $5000 to Kaikoura MP Colin King (National).
United Fisheries president Kypros Kotzikas gave $5000 to National's Nicky Wagner and Independent Fisheries gave $3000 to Labour's Clayton Cosgrove.
Mr Jones put his $10,000 donation from Peter Talley down to their common Dalmatian ancestry.
A $2000 donation from Whangarei Mayor and businessman Stan Semenoff was because "he's my mother's cousin".
Those in the liquor business were also active.
National's Tim Groser received $3000 from NZ Liquor Merchants.
National MP and Manurewa candidate Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi received several donations from small local liquor outlets, perhaps in response to the spate of crimes in the area last year that led to measures to restrict the number of smaller liquor outlets.
Candidates' donations
The top five
1. Allan Peachey, National: $46,250 (includes $10,000 each from Ricoh Ltd, Incentive Solutions, Corporate Cabs, and Adfit Membership Services).
2. Brendon Burns, Labour: $38,117.12 (about $16,000 from a regional fundraiser, which included $2000 from children's author Joy Cowley).
3. Chris Carter, Labour: $38,000 (includes $5000 from James Zhu, International College of Auckland principal, and $8000 from fruit and vegetable chain-store owner Lim Nam Chhour).
4. Jonathan Coleman, National: $36,323.14 (includes $16,672 from Brian Choi Trust, contribution donations; and $5000 from Barfoot and Thompson real estate director Garth Barfoot).
5. Simon Bridges, National: $34,308.42 (includes $3000 from commercial real estate company CPS Partnership, $2500 from property developer Zariba Holdings, and $3000 from Realty Services; also free timber worth $1308.42 from Bob Clarkson's company).
Also
Prime Minister John Key: $21,500 (including $15,000 from Kyounggen Lee, of Epsom).
