Owen Glenn's Bribery Blues

On Saturday the 3 September, Sean Plunket interviewed Businessman and multi-millionaire Owen Glenn, on The Nation Program. During the interview he was asked a question concerning donations to political parties.

Owen Glenn stated that he would make a donation of $100 million to the government if the National and Act parties won the next general election. It was inferred that he would not make the donation if Labour won.

He was therefore encouraging people to support the National and Act parties by using a financial incentive to illicit votes from the public. This is strictly outlawed under the Elections Act 1993:

Part 7 – Corrupt and illegal practices – 216 Bribery

(1) Every person is guilty of a corrupt practice who commits the offence of bribery.

(2) Every person commits the offence of bribery who, directly or indirectly, by himself or herself or by any other person on his or her behalf—

• (a) gives any money or procures any office to or for any voter, or to or for any other person on behalf of any voter, or to or for any other person, in order to induce any voter to vote or refrain from voting; or

• (b) corruptly does any such act as aforesaid on account of any voter having voted or refrained from voting; or

• (c) makes any such gift or procurement as aforesaid to or for any person in order to induce that person to procure, or endeavour to procure, the return of any person or candidates at an election or the vote of any voter,—

or who, upon or in consequence of any such gift or procurement as aforesaid, procures, or engages, promises, or endeavours to procure, the return of any person or candidates at any election or the vote of any voter.

(3) For the purposes of this section,—

• (a) references to giving money shall include references to giving, lending, agreeing to give or lend, offering, promising, or promising to procure or endeavour to procure, any money or valuable consideration:

• (b) references to procuring any office shall include references to giving, procuring, agreeing to give or procure, offering, promising, or promising to procure or to endeavour to procure, any office, place, or employment.

(4) Every person commits the offence of bribery who—

• (a) advances or pays or causes to be paid any money to or to the use of any other person with the intent that that money or any part thereof shall be expended in bribery at any election; or

• (b) knowingly pays or causes to be paid any money to any person in discharge or repayment of any money wholly or in part expended in bribery at any election.

(5) The foregoing provisions of this section shall not extend or be construed to extend to any money paid or agreed to be paid for or on account of any legal expenses incurred in good faith at or concerning an election.

(6) A voter commits the offence of bribery if before or during an election he or she directly or indirectly, by himself or herself or by any other person on his or her behalf, receives, or agrees or contracts for, any money, gift, loan, or valuable consideration, office, place, or employment for himself or herself or for any other person for voting or agreeing to vote or for refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting.

(7) Every person commits the offence of bribery if after an election he or she directly or indirectly, by himself or herself or by any other person on his or her behalf, receives any money or valuable consideration on account of any person having voted or refrained from voting or having induced any other person to vote or refrain from voting.

(8) In this section the term voter includes any person who has or claims to have a right to vote.

Somehow I don’t think the corrupt Owen Glenn is going to be charged by the Police for breaching the Elections Act 1993... Mainly because of the one law for the rich and another for the poor rule that New Zealand is governed by.

However public opinion seems to be agreeing with the Elections Act. Here's the first five comments so far on the TV3 website of the interview video:


jj - 03 Sep 2011 8:27p.m.

This is a sure reason to get rid of those bastards in November, this is dirty politicking too say the least, when you have rich people supporting National to the theme of millions to help them win. It is about time that those with so much money stop supporting different parties at election time, as the time frame like this stands out like fins on a shark. They should start polling on even footing and no party is allowed to receive money as a carrot dangle, after all it is polls where your voting is done, all the voting booths are not segregated but all parties are held in one place.

Bob - 03 Sep 2011 8:13p.m.

The people will choose who wins this election... And majority of the population is poor... The rich trying to buy this election by parading their money around like its nothing!!! Bribing us kiwis into voting for National... Enough is enough!!! Vote Labour!!! 

Clarke - 03 Sep 2011 7:48p.m.

Not born in New Zealand. Hasn't lived here in over 40 years. Donated also to the New Zealand first party in the past. Not eligible to vote here in New Zealand. Doesn't surprise me that he has lost his mind at 71, although in all honesty he has previously tried to swap donations to political parties for international political postings before. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if National have sold out and are planning on giving him a political posting that Labour weren't corrupt enough to give him.

Owen Glenn has also formerly donated money to the Maori party before... the man is quite fickle but what else can you expect at his age. I have seen many many National party supporters put Mr Glenn down over the years... lets watch them be hypocritical and sing his praises now though. That he is supporting National is meaningless since he seems to actually donate to more than one party during any given election campaign, I believe he donated to four parties in the last general election... left and right wing parties.. so he definitely hedges his bets and is inconsistent in his beliefs. 

jan.. - 03 Sep 2011 7:45p.m.

A generous offer, buying National Party like a lottery ticket is not appropriate, Labour Party can do better and looks like you might have to raise your generous offer millionaire.. 

KJ Moodie - 03 Sep 2011 7:16p.m.

This is really, really unfortunate for NZ politics.