Key calls on PM for facts from Peters

John Key
John Key
National leader John Key is calling on Prime Minister Helen Clark to find out whether her Foreign Minister Winston Peters told the truth when he denied his party has received a donation from billionaire Owen Glenn.

Mr Peters' denial has been contradicted by an email from Mr Glenn in which he says he did make a donation to New Zealand First.

Mr Key said Helen Clark might be reluctant to get involved but said she "cannot afford the luxury" of ducking the issue.

Mr Peters, as Foreign Minister, was a member of her executive and she had to be able to have confidence in information and assurances she received from him.

"These are serious allegations and they need to be resolved. The New Zealand public are entitled to answers to the questions."

Mr Glenn's political donations attracted media interest after he was awarded an honour at New Year.

Doubt has been cast on Mr Peters' denials by a leaked email exchange between Mr Glenn, an expatriate billionaire who lives in Monaco, and his public relations adviser in New Zealand, Steve Fisher.

In an email on February 21 - revealed by The New Zealand Herald - about how to handle media interest in political donations, Mr Glenn said, "Are you saying I should deny giving a donation to NZ First? When I did?"

Mr Fisher advised Mr Glenn to continue referring questions about donations to New Zealand First.

But Mr Peters maintained at the time that his party received no donation and held a special press conference in February to deny it.

But Mr Peters yesterday repeated his assertion that Mr Glenn had not given the party any money and accused the Herald of fabricating the email.

"You've got my take on the whole thing . . . you people are not going to waste any more of New Zealand First's or my time," he told NZPA.

The controversy has come during a particularly important month for Mr Peters both as NZ First leader and as Foreign Minister. Mr Peters will play a prominent role in hosting a visit by United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to New Zealand in two weeks, possibly the highlight of his term as Foreign Minister.

Mr Peters leaves for Fiji today for an important Pacific Foreign Ministers delegation to discuss a return to democracy with coup leader Frank Bainimarama.

NZ First's annual convention is to be held in Auckland this weekend, ahead of the general election which could be as little as three months away.

Helen Clark has refused to comment and today is likely to insist it is an internal matter for NZ First. She relies on the support of Mr Peters' party to run the minority Government.

Mr Key was cautious in his language last night about Mr Peters, who could hold the balance of power after the election.

"We are not saying Mr Peters is misleading the public but the emails seem to contradict what he is saying," Mr Key said. "He has a responsibility to clear that up."

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