6 Jun 2023

National accuses Michael Wood of conflict of interest

From Morning Report, 8:10 am on 6 June 2023

The Transport Minister, Michael Wood is being accused of a conflict of interest for failing to declare shares he owns, including in Auckland Airport.

National's acting Auckland spokesperson Paul Goldsmith says as Transport Minister, from late 2020 to early 2022, the Minister failed to declare his holding, which is a clear breach of the Cabinet Manual. 

In a statement, Michael Wood says he bought the 1,530 shares as a teenager and believed they were owned inside a trust, which he declared.

He says the shares were declared in 2022 and 2023, and he is now in the process of selling them. 

The Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins says the shares were declared to cabinet but decisions about any breaches of the cabinet manual will rest with the Registrar of Pecuniary Interests.