I couldn't ignore truth on Peters - trainer

Winston Peters cuts a swathe through a waiting group of media representatives. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Champion horse trainer Paul Moroney says he approached Owen Glenn with his recollection of Winston Peters thanking him for the $100,000 donation because "I cannot walk away from the truth".

Mr Moroney said when the story broke and he saw Mr Peters' continued denials he realised he had crucial knowledge. "I said to people: 'I am staggered by what's happening here'."

He then made a "personal decision" to tell Mr Glenn what he knew knowing he was coming to New Zealand to appear before Parliament's privileges committee - but never spoke to him directly, dealing only briefly with an assistant.

Mr Moroney swore an affidavit of his recollections of Mr Peters thanking Mr Glenn as they sat together at the Karaka yearly sales in 2006.

Mr Glenn provided it to the committee as corroborating evidence on Tuesday.

Mr Moroney said he expected a backlash from the racing community as Mr Peters was a popular minister.

"This is not about the racing industry. This is about the truth. And I cannot walk away from the truth."

Mr Peters yesterday produced a statement from Vela group director Donald McIllraith that said Mr Moroney's evidence was "not accurate" and gave a version of the lunch in the Pencarrow Stud tent that did not have them sitting together.

Mr Moroney said Mr McIllraith's statement actually verified "we were all in the same place at the same time".

Mr Moroney, who works with Mr Glenn's horses, said Mr McIllraith had failed to take into account what happened when Mr Peters first arrived, and elaborated on his affidavit.

"Mr Peters came over ... sat down for five to 10 minutes, had a glass of wine, and the conversation with him and Owen took place with Owen sitting right next to them."

Mr Moroney said he realised he had put his sister, Labour MP Sue Moroney, in an "awkward position". He had informed her of his knowledge about three months ago without telling her the full story.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Helen Clark yesterday defended her decision not to fire Mr Peters despite his failure to counter hard evidence suggesting he knew about the $100,000 donation from the start.

She will wait at least until next Tuesday, when Mr Peters' lawyer, Brian Henry, has been invited to reappear at the privileges committee. It is not yet known if he will agree to.