Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Hide Rodney: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:621;Page:16600] 
5.  
RODNEY HIDE (Leader—ACT) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Is she satisfied that John Tamihere has disclosed all his financial dealings with the Waipareira Trust that might cause her or the Labour Government embarrassment; if so why? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Deputy Prime Minister)  
on behalf of the 
 Prime Minister 
: 
 The Prime Minister has suspended judgment on the financial dealings Mr Tamihere has had or is alleged to have had with the Waipareira Trust while they are the subject of inquiries. 
Rodney Hide 
: Is the Prime Minister aware that former trust board member Dennis Hansen claimed in a letter dated 11 June 2000—a letter that I understand he is under some pressure to withdraw—that the Waipareira Trust board loaned Mr Tamihere $100000 interest free in 1991-92 a loan that at Mr Tamihere’s request the board wrote off in 1993; and does the Prime Minister think it appropriate that John Tamihere received both a golden handshake and a golden kia ora? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: I am aware of that. I am also aware that today the member received a fax from the same person stating: “However I was wrong.” 
Rodney Hide 
: Would it help the Prime Minister in forming a view on whether she thinks that was appropriate to know that board members have said it is correct and that the minutes state: “The motion was passed that John Tamihere did not have to pay the $100000 loan back provided futuristically if and when his contract expired and he moved on there was to be no further package deals financially or otherwise.”; and in light of that will the Prime Minister ask Douglas White QC to consider all lump-sum payments made to Mr Tamihere by the trust and whether the appropriate tax was paid? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: I am aware of those accusations. I repeat that the member has received a fax denying them. As the member has already indicated to Mr White that he will release information to him I invite him to release whatever information he has. We will see how it all works out in the wash. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Since the Prime Minister is now aware of that allegation why will she not ask Douglas White QC to include that particular matter in his investigations? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: That matter has been in the public arena for a long time; it is not a new allegation. Mr Peters raised this issue some 5 years ago as I recollect within the public arena. There is no need to revisit the issue unless of course Mr White chooses to consider it to be relevant. If Mr Hide wants to raise the matter with Mr White he is perfectly free to do so but I trust that he will table all the documents he has and not just some of them. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Is the Prime Minister satisfied with that given that Mr Tamihere in November 1999 admitted receiving the loan but then said he could not remember the details; and if the loan was connected with a prohibition against any other exit package will she now begin to think that this matter has more relevance than she originally gave it? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: If that is the evidence that members wish to present to Mr White I am sure he will consider it to be relevant for consideration. I would say that—in terms of simply issuing a loan—if the notion of an employing body issuing a loan to an employer is in itself wrong then an awful lot of people in this country will be in trouble. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: Would it help the Prime Minister to stop suspending judgment if I was to tell her that the letter was to myself is handwritten is dated 11 August 2000 and states: “Mr John Tamihere in 1991-2 borrowed $100000 from the Waipareira Trust board without interest. In 1993 John asked the Waipareira Trust board to write off the $100000 which was a personal loan to him. I moved a motion that John Tamihere did not have to repay the $100000 loan back provided futuristically if and when his contract expired and he moved on there was to be no further package deals financially or otherwise.”; having now heard that why should we accept a fax sent today and why is this matter not being referred to the QC or can the Prime Minister give us an assurance that tax has been paid on the second golden handshake? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: The Prime Minister certainly could not give an assurance about taxation at all and nor could the Minister of Revenue because they would be in breach of legislation were they actually privy to an individual taxpayer’s information. 
Rodney Hide 
: Is the Prime Minister aware that—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I gave a warning and somebody has interjected. However I am prepared to give another warning. I am being fair to the member as two comments were made. I now want there to be no more interjections during question time. 
Rodney Hide 
: Is the Prime Minister aware that despite this claim having been around for some years John Tamihere has never denied receiving a loan from the Waipareira Trust and having it written off; and given the inquiry that is under way why will the Prime Minister not ask Douglas White to check the minutes of the Waipareira Trust board regarding that loan? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: Mr Tamihere I believe has stated quite clearly that he received a loan from the trust in I think 1991. There is no great secret about that. If the member feels that he has some other evidence I invite him to give it to Mr White. Mr White has sufficiently broad terms of reference that he can cover those matters if they are relevant to the payments made in 2000. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Is the Prime Minister aware that Mr White is likely to be inundated with all sorts of people making allegations against Mr Tamihere; if so why is she not prepared to take the information that comes from Mr Hide and Mr Prebble that would indicate that during John Tamihere’s time at the Waipareira Trust he received almost half a million dollars worth of extra payments by way of his severance payment the car and the $100000 interest-free loan and why will she not ask Mr White to investigate whether the tax was paid which is a simple question? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: The issue of the tax again is an issue for the trust not an issue for Mr Tamihere. The responsibility for the payment of fringe benefit tax rests with the employer and has been deeply criticised by National for the last 20 years because of that. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: At this point in time has Mr Tamihere advised the Prime Minister that his loan was written off and more important what the effect of the golden handshake was upon his ordinary salary taxation which he seems to be overlooking? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: I cannot answer the first part of the question. Regarding the second part of the question I am not sure whether any Minister could give that answer—only the people involved could give it. I repeat that it is actually illegal for the Minister of Revenue—or through him the Prime Minister—to have details about individuals’ tax status irrespective of the information that is given to them by the person involved. 
Rodney Hide 
: Is the Prime Minister aware that John Tamihere has never denied having the $100000 loan written off? 
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN 
: My understanding is that Mr Tamihere has denied the loan was of that size but obviously I am open to correction on that matter. What the Prime Minister is certainly aware of—at least the Acting Prime Minister is—is that today the member received a fax denying the original allegation. I note that he is not inviting the Prime Minister to send that to Mr White for investigation. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: I seek the leave of the House to table a letter from Mr Dennis Hansen who says he is a kaumatua and a board member of the Waipareira Trust dated 11 May 2000. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that letter. Is there any objection? 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I will not take objection to that if I can also have leave to table a fax sent today to Mr Hide. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member cannot do that on behalf—[ 
Interruption 
] Dr Cullen has no objection to that. 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: I first seek leave to table the fax sent today to Mr Hide. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: First I will deal with the first issue. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: No we can deal with Dr Cullen’s request first. Let us get them all on the table. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table Dr Cullen’s fax first. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is now sought to table Mr Prebble’s letter. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.