The Serious Fraud Office announced today that they are investigating Labour Parry donations from 2017.
SFO commences investigation in relation to Labour Party donations
The Serious Fraud Office has commenced an investigation in relation to donations made to the Labour Party in 2017.
The SFO is presently conducting four investigations in relation to electoral funding matters. A fifth matter that the agency investigated relating to electoral funding is now before the courts.
“We consider that making the current announcement is consistent with our past practice in this area of electoral investigations and in the public interest,” the Director of the SFO, Julie Read, said.
In the interests of transparency and consistency, the SFO has announced the commencement of all these investigations.
RNZ: Serious Fraud Office to investigate 2017 Labour Party donations
In a statement, the SFO said it was conducting four investigations in relation to electoral funding, and a fifth was now before the courts.
The other cases involved respectively the New Zealand First Foundation, Auckland Council, and Christchurch Council.
An SFO investigation into the New Zealand First Foundation was launched in February, after police promptly handed in a complaint from the Electoral Commission last November.
Kiwiblog: SFO announces investigation into Labour’s 2017 donations
This is very interesting. If I had to guess, I’d say the investigation was into Labour not naming people who paid tens of thousands of dollars for artworks as a donation to Labour.
The Standard: SFO to Investigate Labour Donations
It appears the investigation may be into donations made at a ‘silent’ art auction in 2017. In February, Labour acknowledged that two men facing SFO charges along side National Party bag man Jami-Lee Ross and another man over donations to the Tories, had made donations to Labour as well.
Labour Party president Claire Szabo said at the time that Zheng Hengjia donated $10,000 by buying a piece of art at a silent auction in April 2017 and Zheng Shijia donated $1940 in 2018.
Szabo noted both donations were included in the Labour Party return filed in the respective years.
Possibly the main change of note here is that finally the SFO are investigating donations. In the past the Police tended to kick for touch on political investigations.
Your NZ 
Kitty Catkin
/ 13th July 2020(manages not to say it)
John J Harrison
/ 13th July 2020O dear, o dear.
Following hot on the heals of investigating two ex Labour cabinet members, now mayors of our two largest cities the spotlight is now on their political party.
No doubt a number of Labour fans on this site will proffer all kinds of excuses for this untimely SFO investigation.
Must stock up on copious supplies of popcorn!
Kitty Catkin
/ 13th July 2020Get me some while you’re at it, please, if you’re going to the supermarket. There’s a good brand called ACT II. (really) Better get a few cartons.
Blazer
/ 13th July 2020as Shakespeare said …’much ado about …nothing’….don’t choke on the…corn John.
John J Harrison
/ 13th July 2020As our PM would say to you and your comment — “ be kind.”
Kitty Catkin
/ 13th July 2020And wash your hands ! 😀
Blazer
/ 13th July 2020Sound advice…although it appears dirty politics …doesn’t wash off National M.P’s.
Duker
/ 13th July 2020Much better than the question some are asking Muller….is he truthfull
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/122066216/national-leader-todd-muller-found-wanting-in-first-real-test-of-moral-leadership
At least Jacinda isn’t involved with the cold calling the donors , hosting them for dinner, checking with the bag man when it’s ‘in the bag’….Simon are you still with the national party…it’s been such a blur in the last week.
Farrar seems to wonder if paintings or prints of some value or were donations plus buying something of artistic merit.
That national party ‘reserach unit’ Tova O’Brien spoke about a few months back has been busy behind the scenes….
https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/05/national-sets-up-intelligence-unit-to-dig-up-info-on-political-opponents-during-2020-election-campaign.html
Kitty Catkin
/ 13th July 2020Hardly ‘Much Ado About Nothing.’ ; more like ‘Truth will come to light.’ This is a little more serious than ‘nothing’. Read the story.
The SFO is investigating people making large donations and their not being named by Labour.
Duker
/ 13th July 2020They have been named….try to keep up
Standard
Both donations were included in previous returns.
Kitty Catkin
/ 14th July 2020It took them long enough. It happened 3 years ago.
Does anyone remember Philip Taito Field ? Or Helen Clark signing a painting that wasn’t by her ?
Blazer
/ 13th July 2020bring it..on.
Kitty Catkin
/ 13th July 2020The SFO are doing just that.
PartisanZ
/ 13th July 2020National-ACT aka the [deleted] final counter-attack in the Schemedia I’d say.
Their ‘Battle of the Bulge’ …
Resolved quickly, I hope … then its on to Berlin …
Corky
/ 13th July 2020Ain’t Karma a bitch, Parti. Remembering all those digs from you and Blazer about crooked National Party donations and funding. Seems Labour isn’t above suspicion itself.
My suggestion…if you are standing in a glass house don’t use a catapult.😄
I bet the unions are shaking. Such an unholy alliance between them and Labour.
Duker
/ 14th July 2020AH no . The same people who donated in bulk to National also bought some paintings at a fundraising auction, and its whether was a donation or part of it was for an artwork of some merit.
The SFO had those same names in its investigation of National and thus the information came to light.
They werent being wined and dined and electoral colledged by Labour
Corky
/ 14th July 2020It’s about perceptions, Duker. Now the focus is on LABOUR. You need to accept that.
Kitty Catkin
/ 14th July 2020We don’t HAVE electoral colleges here, as far as I know. That’s America.