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