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The Serious Fraud Office investigation into Labour is to do with paintings it sold at silent auctions to raise money.
The party's the latest to be probed by the SFO, for donations in 2017.
Newstalk ZB political editor Barry Soper told Mike Yardley the artist has a particular figure the painting is worth and when it goes above that, it can be considered a donation.
“Wealthy people come along and bid a lot for an artwork at auction, which should be declared as a party donation.”
Soper says the Labour Party has put out a statement saying it normally declares these.
He says the SFO says the investigation is in the public interest, but doesn't mean Labour is guilty.
Victoria University political donations researcher Max Rashbrooke told Mike Yardley the donations of the art work are being registered to the artist.
“What we really want to know is who's paid large amounts of money for artworks, which is then going into the Labour Party's coffers and helping them run elections.”
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