A Parliamentary inquiry into fraudulent investment schemes has been called a kangaroo court by Act MP Rodney Hide.
The third public meeting of an inquiry into the schemes again became a chance to taunt Mr Hide over his speaking at a seminar in Fiji. The investment scheme promoted at the seminar
turned out to be fraudulent.
Labour MPs have attacked Mr Hide for speaking at the seminar. People paid as much as $10,000 to attend, and up to 300 New Zealanders lost around $10 million.
Yesterday, as committee members listed witnesses they wanted called, Mr Hide said the committee was acting as a kangaroo court for the benefit of the Labour party.
Most of those to be summoned were named in an affidavit by Hamilton man Sydney Taare, who has said he lost $60,000 in the scheme.
Mr Taare's affidavit was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday. He also will be called before the finance select committee.
The inquiry is about how to stamp out tax losses from fraudulent investment schemes, but witnesses have mainly been questioned about the scam Mr Hide has become associated with.
Yesterday's hearing followed a similar pattern, with Labour MPs attempting to get Serious Fraud Office director David Bradshaw to indirectly criticise Mr Hide.
Committee chairman Mark Peck said he believed the inquiry was making progress despite some "clearly hurt feelings".
- NZPA
