A hotel management deal in Niue involves the father of one of Labour Party’s high-flying MPs, Jacinda Ardern.
Labour’s leader Andrew Little asked the Auditor General to investigate how a hotel chain founded by a National Party donor came to win a management contract for Niue’s Matavai Resort, and said there needs to be more transparency over the deal.
The resort’s trustee owners, including Jacinda’s father Ross Ardern, who is also Niue’s High Commissioner, appointed the hotel’s board of directors who organised the contract tender.
Little wouldn’t explain the link between the deal and the MP’s father.
“I think we need independent assurance that there’s nothing untoward here. You’ve got trustees all appointed by the Minister,” he said.
Despite being asked repeatedly about how his accusations reflected on the father of one of his MPs, Little refused to directly answer the question.
Foreign minister Murray McCully and the Scenic Hotel Group said the deal is above board.
McCully is adamant the decision was made without any political interference.
Auditor General Lyn Provost is yet to decide whether she will investigate.
