The government is considering giving billionaire Labour party
donor Owen Glenn a job in Monaco where he mingles with the rich and
famous.
Glenn is Labour's biggest donor but he has given the party a big
headache as more revelations emerge about his links with
Labour.
Tuesday was Glenn's birthday and he celebrated with a party at the
Auckland Viaduct.
But the billionaire Labour donor has left Prime Minister Helen Clark with little to celebrate.
The high living transport tycoon has forced Clark to confirm he is being considered for a job in the glamorous principality as New Zealand's Honorary Consul to Monaco.
"Certainly there has been no conversation by me with Mr Glenn on
this matter. I am aware that he has had breakfast with Mr Peters
and it has been discussed. Where in the ether it came to me I do
not know," says Clark.
The prospect of that job has sparked controversy because Glenn
donated $200,000 to Labour in 2004, a further $300,000 in 2005 and
an interest free loan of $100,000 in 2006.
This year, Glenn received an award in the New Year's honours
list.
"What assurances can she give the New Zealand public that Mr Glenn did not receive his honour as a mark of respect for bailing out the New Zealand Labour party?" asks John Key, National leader.
Glenn's business success and a $7.5 million grant to Auckland University's new business school are the factors Labour says he has been honoured for.
And Clark says being Honorary Consul to Monaco would hardly be a reward at all.
National's strategy is to paint Labour as hypocritical, given its stance on cleaning up political funding rules.
"Does she agree with the rest of the New Zealand public that this is looking very murky indeed?" asks Key.
Clark hit back, criticising National over donations.
"The only thing that looks murky is the National Party putting all
its money into secret trusts including by the end of December last
year scurrying around the anonymous donors," she says.
Face to face
Meanwhile, Clark will come face to face with Glenn this week when the pair open a new building at Auckland University.
Clark says the opening of the Auckland University's business school building - which Glenn has donated $7.5 million to - will go ahead as planned.
When asked what she will say to him when they meet, Clark had one word - hello.
