The New Zealand First Foundation has received tens of thousands of dollars from donors in the horse racing industry in payments which fall just below the $15,000 threshold over which party donations are made public.
In one case $45,000 was donated by the Lindsay family, including Brendan Lindsay, owner of Cambridge Stud and one of New Zealand's richest men.
The payments from the Lindsay family went into the New Zealand First Foundation bank account on the same day in three lots of $15,000 - just one cent below the threshold for public disclosure.
The Electoral Commission said this week it believed money given to the Foundation should have been treated as party donations and police have now called in the Serious Fraud Office.
In Depth reporters Guyon Espiner and Kate Newton have been investigating and Guyon Espiner filed this report.
Overnight Winston Peters has posted on Facebook: "within the next 48 hours I will be letting you know the truth about the NZF Foundation. Answering questions live on Facebook. I will tell you what the latest hysterics are all about. Get your questions in now".
Winston Peters' tweet. Photo: Screenshot/Twitter/@winstonpeters
