Rt Hon Winston Peters
New Zealand First Leader
14 February 2013

Government Witholds Documents Linked To Mainzeal Collapse

New Zealand First says Maori Affairs Minister Dr Pita Sharples and Foreign Minister Murray McCully should release all correspondence between themselves and Richina Pacific chief executive Richard Yan.

Richina Pacific is the parent company of Mainzeal Property and Construction which was placed in receivership last week.

Rt Hon Winston Peters says Dr Sharples has been a vocal supporter of Mr Yan’s pet project to build a New Zealand House in Shanghai to accommodate New Zealand Government agencies and key business interests.

“The Government today during Question Time attempted to distance itself from Mr Yan’s project despite the project receiving enthusiastic support from Maori Party co-leader Dr Sharples.

“Dr Sharples personally received a $10,000 donation from Mr Yan during the election in 2011.”

Mr Peters says this combined with Dr Sharples public statements in support of Mr Yan’s pet project raised serious questions about the integrity of Government negotiations.
“This is another example of big business influencing Government decisions behind closed doors.

“Foreign Affairs Minister McCully needs to explain how he didn’t know of the unfolding shambles developing in Shanghai under the aegis of his ministry.

“It becomes even murkier given that Dr Sharples and Foreign Minister Murray McCully both refused to release official documents requested through the Official Information Act,” says Mr Peters.
Click here to read attachment: Dr_Pita_Sharples_2011_election_return.pdf

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ENDS

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Scoop Business: Bathurst Gets Nod For DoC Access To Denniston Mine

Conservation Minister Nick Smith has approved access over conservation estate land for Bathurst Resources to develop an open cast coal mine on the Denniston Plateau, above Westport, to the dismay of environmental opponents.

The timing for Smith’s move avoids Bathurst having to resubmit applications for access agreements under the revised Crown Minerals Act, which comes into force tomorrow and would have required public consultation.

The announcement lands in the middle of delicate negotiations between the company, environmental groups and other interested parties that could pave the way to a broader agreement on the Escarpment proposal, whose resource consents are still subject to court appeals. More>>