An inquiry will look into National’s MP for Whanganui Carl Bates’ failure to declare 25 properties linked to him and his family.
Many of the properties are rentals, but Bates has said he is merely a beneficiary and he was complying with the rules.
When the properties came to public attention, a staff member posted on social media “he sought advice from the Registrar, one of New Zealand’s most senior and respected public servants and acted according to the advice he received. End of story. Keep up the good work Carl”.
But the post was accidentally made under Bates’ account. It was deleted soon after.
The Registrar of Pecuniary and Other Specified Interests of Members of Parliament Maarten Wevers in a statement said Labour’s New Plymouth-based MP Glen Bennett had requested an inquiry be carried out.
“The Registrar’s preliminary review took account of the degree of importance of the matter under inquiry; whether the matter may involve a breach of the obligations to make a return; and whether the matter is technical or trivial,” Wevers said.
“Having conducted a preliminary review of the request, the Registrar has determined that an inquiry is warranted and will be undertaken in accordance with clauses 16 and 17 in Appendix B of the Standing Orders.”
Those clauses set out how such an inquiry can be carried out and the Registrar’s powers in doing so.
The prime minister’s office said Standing Orders – Parliament’s rules – meant Bates was unable to comment on the inquiry.
But he has previously provided the following statement about the issue:
“When I moved into politics, I exited my business interests to focus solely on being an MP. This included selling my businesses and moving away from involvement in a family property portfolio.
“As a discretionary beneficiary of a family trust which has an interest in a property portfolio, I have no involvement in it or its interests, as is common for family trusts.
“Upon becoming an MP, I met with the Registrar of Pecuniary Interests in advance of filing my return to ensure I would be declaring everything required of me.”
rnz.co.nz
