Register of Pecuniary Interests of Members of Parliament: Summary of Annual Returns As at 31 January 2009
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J. 7 Register of Pecuniary Interests of Members of Parliament: Summary of annual returns as at 31 January 2009 Forty-ninth Parliament Presented to the House of Representatives pursuant to Appendix B of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives REGISTER OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT: SUMMARY OF ANNUAL RETURNS J. 7 2 REGISTER OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT: SUMMARY OF ANNUAL RETURNS J. 7 MISTER SPEAKER I have the honour to provide to you, pursuant to clause 16(3) of Appendix B of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives, a copy of the summary booklet containing a fair and accurate description of the information contained in the Register of Pecuniary Interests of Members of Parliament, as at 31 January 2009. Dame Margaret Bazley DNZM, Hon DLit Registrar of Pecuniary Interests of Members of Parliament 3 REGISTER OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT: SUMMARY OF ANNUAL RETURNS J. 7 Introduction Since 2005 Standing Orders have provided a system for members of Parliament to register their pecuniary interests, such as the assets, debts and gifts they may each have accumulated or received. It provides a protection against arguments that a possible conflict might arise between a member’s public duty and private interests. If certain things are made known and registered, concerns regarding conflicts of interest can be minimised. The requirements are set out in Standing Order 159 and Appendix B of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives. It is a register designed to protect members in the event of scrutiny, rather than being a recital of wealth and indebtedness. It is also a registration of the kind of interests, not their individual value or specific location. Appendix B of the Standing Orders is reproduced as an annex to this booklet. Members are required to register interests in 13 categories set out in clauses 4 to 7 of Appendix B. These are listed below. Items 1 to 9 require a ‘snapshot’ of interests as at 31 January 2009. Items 10 to 13 cover the period from the member’s previous return, or from their election to Parliament, until 31 January 2009. This booklet summarises the information provided in members’ returns in respect of any of the categories below. 1 Company directorships and controlling interests (clause 4(1)(a)) 2 Interests (such as shares and bonds) in companies and business entities (clauses 4(1)(b) and 4(2)) 3 Employment (clause 4(1)(c)) 4 Beneficial interests in trusts (clause 4(1)(d)) 5 Organisations and trusts seeking Government funding (clause 4(1)(e)) 6 Real property (clause 4(1)(f)) 7 Superannuation schemes (clause 4(1)(g)) 8 Debtors (clauses 4(1)(h), 4(3), 5, and 6) 9 Creditors (clauses 4(1)(i), 4(3), 5, and 6) 10 Overseas travel costs (clauses 7(1)(a) and 7(2)) 11 Gifts (clauses 7(1)(b) and 7(3)) 12 Discharged debts (clause 7(1)(c)) 13 Payments for activities (clause 7(1)(d)) For details of declaration requirements in each category, the clause references in Appendix B of the Standing Orders (see Annex) are given above. Note about gifts Several members have identified Air New Zealand’s Koru Club and the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge as gifts from the airlines. The annual value of these is borderline in terms of the $500 threshold above which items must be registered. Therefore, members have made varying decisions about whether to include these in their returns. Rather than including these in each member’s entry, this note serves to identify that these items are a gift that many, if not all, members have in common. 4 REGISTER OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT: SUMMARY OF ANNUAL RETURNS J. 7 Privileges Committee Inquiry In 2008 the Privileges Committee undertook an inquiry into a question of privilege relating to compliance with a member’s obligations under the Standing Orders dealing with pecuniary interests1. The Privileges Committee’s report on this inquiry provided guidance for members on specific matters relating to the declaration of gifts, payments in kind, and arrangements with third parties or trusts. The Committee also stated some general principles that members should apply when completing their returns. The Committee found that members must make an honest attempt to return all the pecuniary interests they hold, and that they are obliged to turn their minds to the interests they have. The Committee also noted that members’ approach should be “If in doubt, declare it”. As Registrar, it is not my role to check the accuracy of the information declared by members. However, I have noted this year a high level of effort on the part of members to comply fully with the requirements to declare their interests and to apply the principles stated by the Privileges Committee. In some instances, this has led members to supply more information than they are required to, including declaring items that are not strictly pecuniary interests as specified in the Standing Orders. I have respected members’ wishes and included this additional information in the summary of returns. I will give further consideration to this for next year’s summary, as I do not wish a situation to evolve where members increasingly feel obliged to declare more interests than they are required to, in order to match the declarations made by other members. 1 Question of privilege relating to compliance with a member’s obligations under the Standing Orders dealing with pecuniary interests, Report of the Privileges Committee, September 2008 (I.17D) 5 REGISTER OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT: SUMMARY OF ANNUAL RETURNS J. 7 Amy ADAMS (National, Selwyn) 1 Company directorships and controlling interests Amdon Farms Limited – farming Christchurch Investment Club Limited – investing 2 Interests (such as shares and bonds) in companies and business entities Team Talk Limited – communications Telstra Limited – telecommunications Wool Equities Limited – wool industry 4 Beneficial interests in trusts Montford Trust Hampton Downs Trust 6 Real property Farm property, Aylesbury, Canterbury (in trust) Farm land, Darfield (in trust) Commercial property, Temuka (in trust) Commercial property, Templeton (in trust) Rental property, Fendalton, Christchurch (in trust) Rental property, Riccarton, Christchurch (in trust) Farm land, Te Kauwhata (in trust) 7 Superannuation schemes Versailles Superannuation Trust KiwiSaver 8 Debtors Montford Trust – loan repayable on demand – 7% interest if demanded 11 Gifts New Zealand Law Society practising certificate – Mortlock McCormack Law Hon Jim ANDERTON (Progressive, Wigram) 2 Interests (such as shares and bonds) in companies and business entities Commonwealth Bank of Australia – banking Comet Technologies – young enterprise scheme ‘special status’ company set up by four students from St Thomas of Canterbury College to develop ‘acci-link’ product 6 Real property Joint family home, Spreydon, Christchurch 7 Superannuation schemes Government Superannuation Fund (Parliamentary Scheme) 6 REGISTER OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT: SUMMARY OF ANNUAL RETURNS J. 7 Jacinda ARDERN (Labour, List) 7 Superannuation schemes KiwiSaver Prudential Superannuation Scheme (United Kingdom-based scheme, no active contributions) State Sector Superannuation Scheme (no contributions since 2005) 10 Overseas travel costs Mexico – preside over International Union of Socialist Youth Presidium Meeting and IUSY World Council. Contributor to travel: IUSY (return economy class airfare). Contributors to accommodation: IUSY, Partido de la Revolución Democrática of Mexico (hosts). Bolivia – attend American Committee Meeting of the International Union of Socialist Youth and chair IUSY Presidium Meeting. Contributors to accommodation: IUSY, FES (German not-for- profit organisation). Shane ARDERN (National, Taranaki-King Country) 1 Company directorships and controlling interests Watino Limited – farming 4 Beneficial interests in trusts CJ Ardern Family Trust 6 Real property Half share in house, Onaera 7 Superannuation schemes Armstrong Jones Managed Fund Chris AUCHINVOLE (National, West Coast-Tasman) 1 Company directorships and controlling interests Auchinvole & Associates Limited – exporters of mixed goods CLCS Limited – moss products 4 Beneficial interests in trusts Lake Superannuation Scheme 6 Real property Family home, Moana, Westland 7 Superannuation schemes Lake Superannuation Scheme 12 Discharged debts Rent for member’s office in Motueka – Holland Memorial Trust Kanwaljit Singh BAKSHI (National, List) 1 Company directorships and controlling interests Bakshi Enterprises Limited – trading India Overseas Group Limited (not currently trading) – trading and consultation 2 Interests (such as shares and bonds) in companies and business entities Simran Audio Studio Pvt Limited (not currently trading) – recording studio 7 REGISTER OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT: SUMMARY OF ANNUAL RETURNS J. 7 4 Beneficial interests in trusts Bakshi Family Trust Kautha Trust 5 Organisations and trusts seeking Government funding Push India Charitable Trust (Treasurer) – non-profit organisation Auckland Sikh Society Ltd (Secretary) – non-profit organisation India Trade Group (Deputy Chairman) – non-profit organisation 6 Real property Property (jointly held in partnership), Auckland Property, Auckland 7 Superannuation schemes Bakshi Superannuation Scheme 8 Debtors Kautha Trust – acknowledgement of debt – nil interest 9 Creditors ASB Bank – joint home loan – normal bank interest rate Westpac Bank – joint home loan – normal bank interest rate National Bank