Winston Peters’ Attitude to Taxpayers' Money Astonishing

8 MAY 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Winston Peters’ comments on Radio New Zealand this morning show an astonishing attitude to taxpayers’ money. In an interview on Morning Report, Mr Peters justified a change to New Zealand First’s constitution that will force a list MP fired by a majority of its caucus to pay the party $300,000 or resign from Parliament.

“It’s hypocritical,” says Taxpayers’ Union Executive Director, Jordan Williams. “On the one hand Mr Peters complains about how unfair it is that New Zealand First could lose some taxpayer funding if Mr Peters fires a list MP. On the other hand, Mr Peters won’t take any steps to make sure Auckland ratepayers are paid back for Tracey Martin’s double dipping.”

Yesterday Fairfax revealed that New Zealand First MP Tracey Martin received more than $70,000 as a Rodney local board member, while sitting in Wellington as an MP. TheTaxpayers’ Union has called on Mr Peters to make sure the double-dipping MP pays Auckland ratepayers back.

“We note that Mr Peters still hasn’t paid back New Zealand taxpayers for the $158,000 his party illegally used for the 2005 election. If only Mr Peters cared about other people’s money the same way he does about taxpayer funding of list MPs who abandon his party."

Mr Peters interview is available here.

ENDS

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