Historical footnote No. 3579, 27 February 2018: Owen Glenn
For one brief week early in 2008, the ninth year of the Helen Clark Labour-led coalition Government, the star of Owen Glenn blazed spectacularly across the political firmament.
Owen who? Owen G. Glenn, born in Calcutta on February 19, 1940. Emigrated with family to New Zealand in 1952. Attended Mt Roskill Grammar in Auckland. Left school at 15.
In 1962, he began working for TEAL, now Air New Zealand. Moved to the UK in the late '60s, then through the '70s, '80s and '90s set up various global freight and logistics companies while based in Australia and the US.
Got filthy rich and moved to the tax haven of Monaco. Continued to make money and give to charities, education and political parties.
Such as? The New Zealand Labour Party. In 2004, he gave $200,000 to the party followed by a further $300,000 in 2005. Was that legal? Completely.
Unusual? For the Labour Party of the day, yes. Generally, no. The National Party had a long history of donations from wealthy business interests, most of them kept anonymous through trust funds.
So this Owen Glenn donated . . . ?
$7.5 million towards the Auckland University business school. Is that a problem? Not in itself, but prior to the opening of the building, Mr Glenn gave an interview in which he made one or two flippant - he later said - remarks concerning an offer of a cabinet post by the Prime Minister of the day, Helen Clark.
He denied it? He said: ‘‘I was not offered a cabinet position. My comments on this matter were lighthearted and have been taken out of context.''
Could the PM have done that anyway? No. Not automatically. Glenn would have to have been a sitting MP for that to happen.
So where was the beef? It made a good story. Besides, Mr Glenn had also loaned the Labour Party $100,000 in 2007, the year in which he became a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Not a good look? What? The loan, or the Order of Merit?
Both. Such awards were routinely given to people who had succeeded in business - ironically, most frequently by the National Party.
Ironically? Yes. Mr Glenn had shown extraordinary philanthropy towards New Zealand, a feature not always evident in the recipients of gongs under National.
What about the loan? It was intimated by the media that Mr Glenn may have received his honour for largesse to the Labour Party. On December 30, 2007, a reporter rang party president Mike Williams, while he was on holiday and occupied with his grandchildren.
He asked whether Mr Glenn had made any donations to the party since 2005. Mr Williams said no.
Was this correct? Yes, although the introduction of the Electoral Finance Act (EFA) late in 2007 meant that the foregone interest on the loan - about $8000 - most likely would count as a donation under the new rules.
Surely Mr Williams should have known this? The man was in holiday mode. He was asked a simple question . . .
Presumably he could have answered more fully? You mean, something like . . . ‘‘Has Mr Glenn given the party a donation since 2005?
No. Hang on, come to think of it, he did make a loan, which we've paid back. You're working to a deadline? Shit! My grandson has just crapped in my lap. Never mind, where were we?
Oh, yes, a loan. Be quiet! Sorry, not you, my granddaughter - Shhssh! I'm talking on the phone to a nice reporter. No you cannot have a packet of fruit loops. Sorry about that.
You were asking about a donation. Hello? There may be a question about the interest on the loan. Just let me get cleaned up. Hello? Are you still there?''
The story got legs? More legs than the US Olympic sprint team in a 4 by 100 relay final.
Why? Because, in an attempt at damage control, Mr Williams offered to resign; because even though most people across the political spectrum conceded that greater transparency over election funding was a good thing, some bitterly resented the impact the EFA could have on anonymous donations to party coffers; and because it emerged that the idea had been raised of Mr Glenn's being appointed an Honorary Consul in Monaco.
What's an Honorary Consul? A sort of professional cocktail party goer.
So not a salaried diplomat? Far from it.
So the Owen Glenn saga was a beatup? History might indicate that, but this is merely a footnote. I couldn't possibly comment.
- Simon Cunliffe is assistant editor at the Otago Daily Times.
