Both Audrey Young and Tracy Watkins write about the latest embarrassment for our friend Winston
Young
New Zealand First has been embarrassed again over its attempts to avoid repaying taxpayers the $157,934 it unlawfully spent last election.
Having decided to give the money to charity - Starship Foundation - only to have it returned, it decided to split the money up among nine charities that would not return it.
Only one just has.
The Cystic Fibrosis Association of New Zealand was sent $10,000 last Friday. The cheque was returned in the post this week.
Watkins
NZ First has been embarrassed by the Cystic Fibrosis Association declaring its intention to return a $10,000 donation paid out of funds at the centre of a ruling by the auditor-general over unlawful spending at the last election.
The Cystic Fibrosis Association says it returned its donation because it was not sure whether NZ First had the right to give the money away to charities.
If Winston had just paid the money back to Parliamentary Services he would not be in the pickle. For his opponents this is a gift that keeps on giving. A bit like the EFA re Labour. The Emissions Trading Scheme is another that is going to haunt its supporters right up until the election.
