With the Electoral Commission having been asked to investigate so-called undeclared political donations made to the New Zealand First Foundation, MP Shane Jones has played down the situation, instead calling a journalist "despicable" for looking into the issue.
But National’s Gerry Brownlee, who appeared alongside Mr Jones today on Breakfast's weekly political panel, wasn't convinced by his colleagues tactics.
When posed with questions around the donations and New Zealand First Foundation, Mr Jones said "there's some salivation happening in the class of the media".
"That's 'cause they don't like my leader [Winston Peters] and New Zealand First," he added.
“I can tell you there is a journalist ringing around all hours of the night hassling people all around Northland who happen to know me. I’m gonna line that journalist up for his despicable behaviour when I see it.”
But Mr Brownlee suggested the name-calling tactic has been has been over used by New Zealand First officials in recent weeks.
“Hang on a second, this is the third or fourth person in New Zealand in the last week or so that’s come under fire from someone in New Zealand First for either being psycho, redneck or some other thing," he said.
“The problem here is that there is $840,000 worth of anonymous donations apparently that no one knows where it's come from. Just explain that and it all goes away."
The Electoral Commission investigation is currently ongoing.
SHARE ME