New Zealand MP David MacLeod admitted in an address to the press on Tuesday, that he failed to declare 19 candidate campaign donations to the Electoral Commission. The failure has led New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to stand down David MacLeod from his role as Chairperson of the Environment Committee.

In addressing the failure to decalare the donations David MacLeod said “[t]his was my mistake which I accept and apologise for.” He further stated that a corrected return to the Electoral Commission has been given and “the intention was always to declare candidate donations”. In responding to questions from the press at the address MacLeod said that the mistake was “due to a misunderstanding that the declaration was only for the 2023 year” and that he never intended to hide the donations. Further questions were asked about being stood down as chairperson to which he responded as “fair punishment and I think the leader has made the appropriate decision.”

Macleod failed to declare 19 candidate donations of $178,000 made to the Electoral Commission. He received $10,000 from a businessman with shares in a seabed mining company looking to benefit from the Fast-Track Bill. MacLeod initially declared a return of $29,268 in donations but rectified it to $207,662. He now faces police probe and could consequently face corruption charges.

It is not clear at this stage whether the Electoral Commission will refer the failure to declare the donations to police. Under the Electoral Act 1993 if the Commission believes any person has committed an offence in relation to donations, the Commission has a duty to report the facts to the New Zealand Police, unless the offence is so inconsequential that there is no public interest in reporting those facts.

The Environment Committee now lists Mike Butterick as Chairperson. The change in personnel comes at the same time as the controversial Fast-track Approvals Bill is being assessed by the Environment Committee. The Bill streamlines the decision-making process for the delivery of infrastructure and development projects that are assessed as having significant regional or national benefits. The draft legislation proposes that project owners will apply to the Minister for Infrastructure, Minister of Transport, and Minister for Regional Development, acting jointly, who will refer the project to an expert panel. The joint ministers will then determine if approval is granted or declined. The Environment Committee report on the Bill is due to be released on September 6, 2024.