Posted by Blogger Name. Category:
Donghua Liu
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Hawke's Bay Today
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Labour Party
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Political donations
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Recovered memory
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Rick Barker
After a couple of weeks of Liu-induced amnesia, Rick Barker's memory seems to have returned; Hawke's Bay Today reports:
Being in the national spotlight from his time as a Labour cabinet minister makes Rick Barker feel he is part of The Eagles' song Hotel California.
"You can check out anytime you like but you can never leave," the Hawke's Bay regional councillor said.
Millionaire businessman Donghua Liu has been at the centre of political scandals involving contributions to National and Labour, saying he gave "equally to governments of both colours".
Mr Barker was under fire because Mr Liu said he paid "close to $100,000" for wine at a Labour fundraising auction in 2007, at least $50,000 hosting Mr Barker and others on a boat cruise on the Yangtze River in 2007, and visited Mr Barker in Hawke's Bay in 2006, where Mr Liu made a donation to the Hawke's Bay Rowing Club which Mr Barker was associated with.
What is fascinating about this is the way in which Mr Barker has gone from last week saying he was not aware the Liu was a Labour donor, couldn't remember how he came to visit Liu in China and had probably had dinner with him in New Zealand, to now having total recall; read on:
Mr Barker said that in 2006 he was contacted on behalf of Mr Liu, to say he was visiting Hawke's Bay to look at investment opportunities.
"They made the arrangements and close to his arrival I was told he was interested in sport, and could I make some arrangements for him to meet sporting organisations.
"This came as a complete surprise to me. The only sporting organisation that I was close enough to, to ask at such short notice, was the rowing club.
"He met with them and at the finish Donghua Liu, without being asked or prompted to my knowledge, put his hand into his pocket and drew out an envelope and gave it to representatives of the rowing club. It wasn't opened then.
"The rowing club met with Donghua Liu at the airport and presented him with a club T-shirt in appreciation. I was told then what the amount was - I can't recall exactly - but it was less than $5000. A significant personal donation but not over the top."
Duncan Barr, the president of the Hawke's Bay Rowing Club, said Mr Liu donated $2000.
Mr Barker said the donation was accepted as a genuine personal gesture.
"If Donghua Liu is now unhappy at giving an unsolicited donation to the rowing club, let him say and so and I will ensure that the money is returned and he will not be required to give the T-shirt back. The gift of the T-shirt was genuine."
Mr Barker said rules about political donations were different at the time "and eight years later it comes to haunt you".
It has indeed come back to haunt Rick Barker. We hope his memory continues to improve to the point that he can remember when and where Mr Liu donated as much as $38,000 to the Labour Party. Then the party hierarchy might be able to find where the money went, and why it wasn't declared.
