More on Spencer Trust

The HoS quotes former NZ First staffer (and commenter here) Rex Widerstrom:

Peters has said he has “no involvement with that trust” administered by his brother, but former NZ First staff member Rex Widerstrom told the Herald on Sunday he was prepared to swear an affidavit stating the trust was set up around the time of the Winebox Inquiry to funnel anonymous donations from people who wanted to support Peters’ various legal battles.

He said he had the opinion that during his time with Peters there were occasional discussions in the NZ First parliamentary offices about the Spencer Trust, and he was absolutely convinced Peters had knowledge it existed and what its function was.

He recalled one conversation between Peters and ex-staffer Sarah Neems when Neems asked Peters if a donation should go into the Spencer Trust and Peters agreed it should.

So Winston has nothing to do with the Spencer Trust apart from the fact his brother runs it, his staff collect money for it and he decided if donations get paid into it or not?

If it is for legal expenses rather than party expenses, then this calls into question even more his declaration of pecuniary interests. If this is a second secret trust to pay his legal bills, it should have been declared.

Another former NZ First staff member – who did not want to be named – said it was his understanding the name “Spencer” was decided on because of Peters’ great admiration for his namesake Winston Churchill. Churchill’s middle name was Spencer and for years his photograph hung in Peters’ Wellington office.

I’ve had many people pint this connection out to me. Of course the mere possibility Winston may have named the Trust doesn’t mean he has anything to do with it!