Smith NickHon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson): One of New Zealand's greatest strengths is our low level of corruption. We on this side of the House are proud that in 2017 New Zealand had the number one spot as the least corrupt country of nearly 200 in the world. This reputation must be jealously guarded and that is why every one of us should be concerned about the revelations going on with New Zealand First. It is déjà vu of the events of 2008 but even more serious.You see the 2017 election was unusual in that it was the first where the party with the most seats did not form the Government and the party that was pivotal to that outcome was New Zealand First. The reports of it being in serious breach of our electoral laws cut to the bone of the integrity of our democracy. The public has a right to know who the financial backers are for the party that determined the outcome of the election and which is having a pivotal role in Government's decisions for our country every single day.Let's summarise the facts that we know. New Zealand First has a foundation headed up by its founding president Doug Woolerton and a political lobbyist and Winston Peters' personal lawyer Brian Henry. They're the only two trustees. We know the foundation received over $500000 in secret donations. We also know the foundation loaned hundreds of thousands to New Zealand First and that in election 2017 it paid substantive electioneering costs like campaign offices like websites like campaign expenses and conference speakers. This is a rort with a capital R".But it gets worse. We know that there are about 70 donations that were declared at the last election. Every party in this Parliament declared—23 from Labour 19 from National. The only party not to declare a single donation was New Zealand First. Does anybody seriously believe that New Zealand First did not receive a single contribution of more than $15000? Then we come to the issue of anonymous donations: 85 percent $342000 of anonymous donations was for New Zealand First and that $340000 is on top of the $500000 being hidden through the foundation. We even have the president of New Zealand First and its treasurer resigning in recent weeks over moral issues of its finances.We should be in no doubt how serious this is. Our electoral law makes it a corrupt practice for political parties to organise their affairs to try and avoid disclosure—SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! The member will resume his seat. I'm going to refer the member to Speakers' ruling 28/1. I probably should've done it earlier in his speech when he used the word corruption. It's a very good combination of Speakers' rulings that go back to Statham reinforced by David Carter former Speaker and what it says very clearly is that members must not make veiled suggestions of corruption during the course of debate. The member will cease.Hon Michael Woodhouse: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Without wanting to challenge your ruling Mr Speaker I would point out that Speakers' ruling 28/1 refers to allegations of corruption by a member of another member and I'm not sure that it could be automatically inferred from the comments made by Dr Smith that that was what he was saying.SPEAKER: Well I took it very directly to be that because he talked about the members who helped form the Government. It couldn't be anyone else—couldn't be anyone else.Hon Dr NICK SMITH: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: If it's a matter of relitigation I'm not going to hear it. If the member has a new point of order I will.Hon Dr NICK SMITH: My point of order is: is the sentence I used "Our electoral law makes it a corrupt practice for political parties to organise their affairs to … avoid [such] disclosure"—is the Speaker saying that that is out of order?SPEAKER: The answer given what had happened before in the context: yes.Hon Dr NICK SMITH: The stench of this whole sorry affair is doing huge reputational risk to the Government and to our country. The Deputy Prime Minister is in the thick of this mess and far from the promise of being the most open and transparent Government no one has been prepared to front up and answer the very real questions.Hon David Bennett: Lock him up.Hon Dr NICK SMITH: I've never seen anything as ugly—SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption] Order! David Bennett will stand withdraw and apologise.Hon David Bennett: I withdraw and apologise.SPEAKER: The member will have slightly less time because I'm not giving him time for that.Hon Dr NICK SMITH: —as when a reporter asked a Minister a question—to call them a psycho in areas of such important public interest. We have the Prime Minister ducking for cover. She is totally compromised. The only way she became Prime Minister was because of a political party that is now alleged of being involved in very serious illegal election activity. National says these matters must be independently and thoroughly investigated."