17 May 2012

PM again says confident of John Banks

10:08 pm on 17 May 2012

Prime Minister John Key has again expressed confidence in John Banks after the ACT Party leader was late in declaring a gift basket he received from internet millionaire Kim Dotcom while visiting Hong Kong.

There was no obligation on Mr Banks to tell him about the gift, Mr Key says.

Mr Key says he understands Mr Banks has now added reference to the gift to his declaration of pecuniary and other interests, which all MPs must do.

Police are investigating a $50,000 donation Mr Banks received for his 2010 Auckland mayoral campaign, which was declared as anonymous gifts.

Labour Party MPs say Mr Banks knew the donation came from the Megaupload founder but failed to declare that was the case.

Labour leader David Shearer says the ACT Party leader's failure to declare the gift basket by the end of February as MPs are required to do is just another reason for Prime Minister John Key to stand him down as a minister.

"It's the accumulation of what's actually gone on before - changed statements, things that have been forgotten and then remembered."

Mr Banks said he passed the gift basket on to hotel staff and had thought nothing more of it, but has now added reference to it in his return of pecuniary interests.

The MP is not alone in making a late addition to his return.

Last year seven MPs - five of them Labour - also made additions to their returns after they had been published.