Politics Blog - May 20-26
National MP stood down from select committee roles after failing to declare donations
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has reprimanded a National MP who failed to properly declare election donations.
National's David MacLeod, the MP for New Plymouth, says he accidentally failed to declare all of the donations he'd received for his election campaign. This included a $10,000 donation he received last year.
“I am very disappointed in myself. I apologise to my constituents, the National Party, and the New Zealand public," MacLeod said, in a statement this morning.
Luxon has stood down MacLeod from his roles on two select committees.
“We are taking the matter very seriously. It is imperative that all National Party MPs comply with the law and meet our high expectations,” Luxon said.
National's David MacLeod, the MP for New Plymouth, says he accidentally failed to declare all of the donations he'd received for his election campaign. This included a $10,000 donation he received last year.
“I am very disappointed in myself. I apologise to my constituents, the National Party, and the New Zealand public," MacLeod said, in a statement this morning.
Luxon has stood down MacLeod from his roles on two select committees.
“We are taking the matter very seriously. It is imperative that all National Party MPs comply with the law and meet our high expectations,” Luxon said.
“David has failed to meet the high standards we expect of our MPs."
MacLeod is a first term MP. He joined Parliament after October's election.
On Tuesday, he said he had written to the Electoral Commission to correct his documentation.
He said the error came about because he didn't know he was meant to have filed his 2022 donations, thinking the returns only needed to include 2023 donations.
In 2022, he received 18 candidate donations worth $168,335.
“This error was inadvertent. I mistakenly thought the return was for 2023 only, and the 2022 donations had already been filed. Clearly, I was wrong,” he said.
MacLeod is a first term MP. He joined Parliament after October's election.
On Tuesday, he said he had written to the Electoral Commission to correct his documentation.
He said the error came about because he didn't know he was meant to have filed his 2022 donations, thinking the returns only needed to include 2023 donations.
In 2022, he received 18 candidate donations worth $168,335.
“This error was inadvertent. I mistakenly thought the return was for 2023 only, and the 2022 donations had already been filed. Clearly, I was wrong,” he said.
“Because of a misunderstanding that the return was for 2023 only, both the information supplied to the Party for my return and my completed return to the Electoral Commission did not include the 2022 donations.
“I signed the return believing it was only meant to cover the 2023 year. This was my mistake and I apologise."
Luxon removed MacLeod from both the Environment and Finance and Expenditure Select Committees.
Luxon removed MacLeod from both the Environment and Finance and Expenditure Select Committees.
David MacLeod speaks to media at parliament after being stood down from his select committee roles. . Glenn McConnell/Stuff