The New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has now revealed businessman Owen Glenn has donated $100,000 - but maintains it never went through party coffers.
Mr Peters, who had strenuously denied any such donation, says he has only become aware of the situation on Friday.
He says the money was paid through his lawyer Brian Henry to cover legal costs incurred during the Tauranga electoral petition at the last election.
Mr Peters says the lawyer has been involved with fundraising money to meet the costs of litigation involving politicians.
But he says Mr Henry had a strict policy of never disclosing the source to the politicians involved.
He says that policy was only broken after fresh publicity at the weekend over Mr Glenn.
