National MP David MacLeod has been referred to Police over his failure to report almost $180,000 of candidate donations.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stood MacLeod down from his duties on both the Environment and Finance and Expenditure Select Committees last month after the National Party picked up the error during its annual consolidation of accounts.
MacLeod said the error was a misunderstanding as he had mistakenly thought the return was for 2023 only, and the 2022 donations had been filed.
The Electoral Commission investigated the matter and has now referred it to the Police.
"As this matter is now with the Police, the Electoral Commission will not be commenting further," the Commission said.
MacLeod received 18 candidate donations worth $168,335 in 2022 when he first became the National Party candidate. MacLeod was also made aware during an audit of one donation of $10,000 in 2023 which had not been disclosed to the National Party and therefore was not included on the 2023 return.
His new return declares $207,662 in candidate donations. The original return included $29,268.
The audit also picked up a $59 discrepancy in one of the donations in 2023 which has also been corrected.
MacLeod, the new MP for New Plymouth, apologised to his constituents, the Party and the public last month.
"Clearly, I was wrong," MacLeod said. "I am extremely disappointed in myself for making this error.
"I entered politics to represent my community and make the country a better place and I am still committed to that."
