Rich-listers give $200,000 to National Party

Real estate mogul Garth Barfoot was one of the National Party's biggest donors over the last year. Photo / Greg Bowker

Some of the National Party's biggest supporters have reached into their pockets again, donating more than $200,000 to the party in the last year.

National declared $208,645 in donations from five donors yesterday, including rich listers from the property and agriculture industries.

Long-term National supporter Garth Barfoot, of real estate empire Barfoot and Thompson's, gave three donations worth $41,495.

Lady Judi Gallagher, of the farming giant Gallagher Group, donated $32,000. Gallagher Group has previously given $146,000 to National and $45,000 to the Act Party.

Wayne Wright, who created the country's biggest childcare company, Kidicorp, made two donations worth $32,450, and property firm Lewis Holdings made three donations worth $32,350.

National also declared two donations worth $41,945 from Waiheke vineyard Stonyridge.

Stonyridge general manager David Jackson said the company donated wine to the last two annual National Party dinners at the Pullman Hotel.

The donations were more professional than political, he said, because many of Stonyridge's clients attended the dinner.

He also said National appeared to value the wine according to restaurant price, rather than its retail price, and he believed it was probably worth closer to $20,000.

Some of the donations have been previously reported but were declared because they tipped the donor's total contributions in the last year over the $30,000 threshold.

Parties must declare any donation or donations totalling more than $30,000 within 10 days if they are received within a 12-month period.