Life And Society

Ex-Prime Minister Jim Bolger calls for end of political donations

08:15 am on 21 November 2019

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Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger says one way to avoid skulduggery over political donations is to do away with them.

The National Party remains under a Serious Fraud Office investigation into claims it breached electoral laws by splitting a big donation into smaller amounts that did not require the donor to be made public.

Now New Zealand First is pushing the law to the limits by setting up a foundation that lends money to the party, meaning the money is not legally defined as donations.

Mr Bolger says New Zealand should follow the lead of many European countries and introduce state funding of political parties.