Winnie choppers in

Additional information and evidence about the Vela Family donations to Winston Peters has been published today by the Dom Post.

The following is an extract from a conversation transcribed by Ross Meurant. It is between himself and Winston Peters. Meurant was Peters lobbyist at the time of this conversation.

Mr Meurant said Mr Vela had friends who might not like seeing Mr Peters in the Vela helicopter, to which he says Mr Peters responded: "Tell him to hire me an unmarked helicopter. So I can paint it black/white and NZ First. Then I can drop into small rural towns and schools."

On October 28 and 29, Mr Peters called Mr Meurant wanting the helicopter, the documents show. They include a transcript Mr Meurant made of the second call.

Mr Peters: Meurant, tell those bastards I need a helicopter. Don't give me this crap about the machine needing repairs.

Mr Meurant: Come on, Winston, he has offered you his pilot. That's a grand a week ... he has personal reasons for not giving you his machine. He socialises with people who hate you.

Mr Peters: You gotta do better than that, Meurant. Don't these people know how dangerous I can be [laughs]. [Mr Peters then says something to effect of Mr Vela having been saved millions in tax liability by Mr Peters.]

Mr Meurant: Come on, he is the only guy to give you funding.

Mr Peters: I have other funding. Don't you worry about that.

Mr Meurant: Okay, you know how much, but Vela has given you 20 grand and, as I have just told you, has confirmed the other 30 grand. What he has said to me is tell you to spend some of the 30 on a helicopter and use his pilot for free. More from Stuff.co.nz

Ain't it great to have friends in high places.

c Political Animal 2008

Racing now, and its Winston coming up the Vela's rear

The latest revelations that Winston Peters is on the take from the Vela family and there is now solid evidence to prove that should be no surprise to anyone. After July's Vela payola scandal hit there is more detail out today.

Money was paid to NZ First through former National MP Ross Meurant - who later accepted a job as a policy adviser to Mr Peters, private papers obtained by The Dominion Post show.

Mr Meurant brokered donations from Philip Vela, a senior member of the wealthy Vela family, before the 1999 election, when NZ First was in a coalition government with National, and after that time.

Mr Vela was told by Mr Meurant that he would have an opportunity to frame friendly policy in business areas to which Mr Vela was connected. The Vela family, worth an estimated $180 million, is involved in the fishing and horse racing industries.

The documents show Vela interests gave NZ First $20,000 in 1999 - with a promise of $30,000 more to come.

Some documents have parliamentary letterheads and include notes from a meeting at which Mr Peters said he had saved Vela interests "millions in tax liability". More from stuff.co.nz

The outcome of the latest revelations for Peters is that probably nothing will happen to him. This is New Zealand, not some sort of straight up democracy that would have Peters sacked and in prison.

His supporters will be galvanised against the world and blindly vote for him anyway.

But he is a corrupt, lying, two bit criminal and that is always what he will be to most.

The real question of accountability once again goes back to the Prime Minister Helen Clark.

She has let him keep his position just so she can stay in power and she will keep Winnie close if it means another 3 years of her at the helm.

Pass the banana.



Related Political Animal reading

Discretion was the essential part of Vela Donation
Winston Peter's Glenn donation scandal: But wait, there is more!



c Political Animal 2008

Take an early poll Helen

The latest outburst by Winston Peters today at a press conference staged by him to defend the indefensible; the Owen Glenn, Vela and Bob Jones donations, all clearly made and all clearly denied in various degrees by Peters comes at a crucial time for Peters, his NZ First Party and Helen Clark and the Labour Party.



Winston Peters denies any wrongdoing TV3
Statement from Winston Peters
Winston Peters faces media


The accusations made against Winston Peters, with written proof in all three cases, are sackable offences for a Cabinet Minister under the terms of Labour's own cabinet manual.

But with some crucial Labour legislation, like the economy wrecking Carbon Credit trading law to pass before an election, the Prime Minister wont push Peters because it will mean an early election.

More proof of course that Clarks politics and lust for power have preference over rules, the country and its laws.


Related Political Animal reading

I didn't give Winston Peters a donation
Discretion was the essential part of Vela Donation
Winston Peter's Glenn donation scandal: But wait, there is more!
Peter's hangs himself in February Paul Henry Interview
Peter's admits lying about Glenn donation
Winston's silence is telling
Labour gets tangled in Peter's lies
Leaked Glenn Email
Winston got secret donations from Owen Glenn

c Political Animal 2008

I didn't give Winston Peters a donation

c Blanch 2008

OK, who in New Zealand didn't give little Winnie a secret donation in the past?

Faster than you can say Hanover Finance has gone bust, the latest revelation from the Dom Post is that Bob Jones has given secret money to a trust administered by Winston Peters brother .

The donation has not been declared to election officials.

Like Labour, Winston Peter's NZ First has railed heavily against secret donations from wealthy individuals and companies but has nevertheless been at the centre of controversy himself by accepting secret money from Owen Glenn, the Vela Family and now Sir Bobby.

Last year Peters and Labour were at the centre of the passing of the Electoral Finance Act, an act they contended would stop these sorts of donations in the future.

In particular, fingers were pointed at the National Party over "big money" buying favours for their donors, but the fingers have clearly been pointing right back.

There is nothing like a little bit of hypocrisy to get the mind focused.


Related Political Animal reading

I think I love you Sir Bobby
Discretion was the essential part of Vela Donation
Winston Peter's Glenn donation scandal: But wait, there is more!
Peter's hangs himself in February Paul Henry Interview
Peter's admits lying about Glenn donation
Winston's silence is telling
Labour gets tangled in Peter's lies
Leaked Glenn Email
Winston got secret donations from Owen Glenn
The Owen Glenn Story: Singing the same tune but hitting a bum note

c Political Animal 2008

Close up Video[July 22] Peters on the attack!

WATCH INTERVIEW Close Up: Winston Peters-22 July 2008 (7:01)



The TV One, Winston Peters interview,live from Singapore, by Mark Sainsbury today, was more of the same bluster and invective from an individual on the ropes and going down for the count.

Peters denied that he received more that $NZ10000.00 from the Vela family, even though the Dom Post have evidence that the family have gifted $150,000.00 to Peter's interests.

He attacked the media again and said the latest accusations were "lies" made up by the media.

Watch the manila folder flapping incessantly through the whole 7 minutes of the interview.

He is usually unflappable.

Peters ended the interview with a wait till I get home taunt to his accusers.

I cant wait.


Related Political Animal Reading

Discretion was the essential part of Vela Donation
Winston Peter's Glenn donation scandal: But wait, there is more!
Peter's hangs himself in February Paul Henry Interview
Peter's admits lying about Glenn donation
Winston's silence is telling
Labour gets tangled in Peter's lies
Leaked Glenn Email
Winston got secret donations from Owen Glenn


c Political Animal 2008

Discretion was the essential part of Vela Donations

The better part of valor is discretion, in the which better part I have saved my life.
William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616), 'King Henry IV part I'

Well, Peters has been discreet, until found out by the NZ Herald and the Dom Post, but his fighting spirit in the face of political danger hasn't been for the better when it comes to his survival. Helen Clark's support of him is neither discreet or advantageous to her or her party.

In Parliament today Helen Clark defended Winston Peters (Video) to the hilt.

This is in spite of overwhelming evidence that Peters took secret money from Owen Glenn, spent NZ $45,000.00 of taxpayers money on his lawyer and accepted NZ$150,000.00 from the Vela Family, a wealthy family with interests in the racing and fishing industry.

Peters is the Minister for racing and gave tax breaks to the equine industry last year.

Giving backing for Peters leaves Helen Clark in a difficult position. In supporting him she has given approval for his behaviour and as he is part of the minority government it is really incumbent on her to make a move on Peters to remove him from his position.

She has done it with countless MPs over the years who have strayed from legal or moral lines and there have been many.

However, her Party relies upon Peters to support Labour's wafer thin grip on Parliament so it is unlikely she will do anything unless she has to.

It could lead to an early election if she puts Winnie's nose out of joint.

Coming on top of secret donations from Owen Glenn to Labour, revealed earlier this year, and Labour and NZ First campaigning heavily on secret donations in relation to their passing of the Electoral Finance Act, Ms Clark has a orgasm of egg all over her face given her support for her Partner in Parliament, Mr Winston Peters.


Related Political Animal Reading

Winston Peter's Glenn donation scandal: But wait, there is more!
Peter's hangs himself in February Paul Henry Interview
Peter's admits lying about Glenn donation
Winston's silence is telling
Labour gets tangled in Peter's lies
Leaked Glenn Email
Winston got secret donations from Owen Glenn

NZ Herald Link

Helen Clark defending Winston Peters in Parliament today-Video

c Political Animal 2008