24 Sep 2008

NZ First leader rejects censure vote

5:29 pm on 24 September 2008

New Zealand First Party leader Winston Peters says he does not accept Parliament's vote of censure and he will place his faith in voters.

The House on Tuesday voted 62 - 56 to censure Mr Peters for failing to disclose a donation of $100,000 towards the legal cost of an electoral petition in 2006.

After a hearing by the privileges committee, it also ordered him to amend his pecuniary interest returns for the last three years.

It is only the fourth time an MP has been censured in the past 35 years.

Mr Peters says the committee was a political jack-up, with National and ACT members deciding that he was guilty before hearing any evidence.

He says it is the second time he has been convicted by the House for a crime that does not exist in the statute books or Parliament's Standing Orders.

Mr Peters also says he provided the Registrar of Pecuniary Interests with an updated return weeks ago.

He says he rests his case on the judgment of the people of New Zealand on election day, 8 November.

Labour view

Deputy Labour leader Michael Cullen said there was nothing in the committee's report that should result in Mr Peters being sacked as a minister.

Dr Cullen, a member of the committee, said Mr Peters should not have been found guilty of contempt of Parliament.

He said that if Mr Peters had sought advice in 2006, he would have been told he did not have to declare the $100,000 donation from Mr Glenn.