NZ First leader Winston Peters is refusing to clarify the origin of a substantial sum of money his party president says appeared in New Zealand First's bank account.
The party's president and new MP Dail Jones told media he had found a significant sum deposited in NZ First's
bank just before the party gave $158,000 to Starship hospital, which was later returned.
Mr Jones said the sum was between $10,000 and $100,000 and, when pushed, said it was closer to $100,000.
Mr Peters has denied the party ever got a donation from billionaire Owen Glenn, and Mr Glenn has refused to say whether he donated to NZ First.
Mr Jones said he did not know where the sum came from and assumed it was an anonymous donation. However, Mr Peters, who was in South Africa at the time, quickly told media Dail Jones was "completely wrong" but did not say what the situation was.
Yesterday Mr Peters refused to say where the money was from and appeared to deny its existence.
When asked, Mr Peters said: "There's no question ever that any such a thing ever did happen."
Asked if that meant "there was no big anonymous donation", Mr Peters said "precisely". When further pressed he said: "I have no idea what is being spoken of because no such thing ever happened."
Mr Jones has remained adamant the sum appeared, saying he remembered quite clearly because he had found it when he was looking for the $158,000 for a cheque to the Starship which was intended to "repay" the amount the Auditor-General deemed unlawful expenditure in the last election.
Mr Jones revealed the amount after speculation about donations from Mr Glenn, a significant Labour donor who said he had also given to other parties.
