Winston Peters admits he got it wrong over MP contract with $300k clause - ‘It was my memory’

September 13, 2018

The loyalty contracts outraged National, who are now unimpressed Mr Peters has changed his story over who’d signed them.

Winston Peters says he got it all wrong when he told the public last month that all his MPs had signed a strict contract, now he says none of them have. 

While Mr Peters is blaming his memory for the mix up, but National is not buying it. 

Last month Mr Peters told 1 NEWS all of his MPs had signed a contract – in accordance with New Zealand First's constitution – making them liable for a $300,000 fine if they ceased to be a party member during the political term in which they were elected.

National’s Nick Smith appealed to Parliament’s Speaker Trevor Mallard, questioning whether New Zealand First MPs then had an undisclosed financial interest in the outcome of the Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill, also known as the waka jumping legislation. 

The Bill would mean MPs aren't able to quit a party and stay on as an independent MP.

Dr Smith released a letter today from Speaker Trevor Mallard over Dr Smith's allegations of financial interest of NZ First MPs in the Electoral Amendment Bill, that said he had received a response to the matter from Mr Peters. 

"That response states that no New Zealand First MP has signed a resignation obligation contract."

Dr Smith said "Mr Peters repeatedly told the public a month ago that all NZ First MPs had signed a $300,000 resignation obligation contract as required by their party's rules.

"He has now told Parliament’s Speaker that no NZ First MP has signed a resignation obligation contract so as to avoid a Privileges Committee hearing into a breach of Parliament’s rules over disclosure of financial interests."

He said it was "difficult to ascertain the truth over these contracts", and accused NZ First MPs of having a "personal financial interest" in the Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill, also known as the waka jumping legislation. 

"The conduct paints a dangerous picture of Mr Peters and his MPs believing they are above the rule of law. This is deeply concerning for a party that is at the centre of New Zealand’s current Government.”

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