Bill English

English faced intense pressure after disclosure of his police statement that MP Todd Barclay had told him about recordings of an employee and offered to let him hear one. His successive public explanations prompted accusations that he had played down what he knew.

State of the evidence

police statement, interviews and changes in wording documented

Legal status — source text

police investigation primarily concerned Todd Barclay; no criminal charges against English

Attribution

personal responsibility for his knowledge and communications concerning the matter; recording itself not attributed to English

English defended the sale of thousands of Housing New Zealand properties to community or private providers to restructure the housing stock. The programme was attacked as ideological and potentially reducing public housing stock, with criticism of the powers granted to ministers to conduct sales.

State of the evidence

sales policy, legislation and criticism documented

Legal status — source text

no personal criminal proceedings

Attribution

direct political responsibility as minister responsible for Housing New Zealand and architect of the programme

As Prime Minister, English, a practising Catholic and longstanding opponent of abortion, said he did not support relaxing a law that still placed abortion within the criminal law framework. The opposition accused his government of sending contradictory messages.

State of the evidence

public position and parliamentary debate documented

Legal status — source text

no personal judicial proceedings

Attribution

personal responsibility for his position as Prime Minister; no criminal wrongdoing

English used the financial veto to prevent adoption of a bill extending paid parental leave to 26 weeks, despite parliamentary majority support. He initially claimed the additional cost would be approximately NZ$280 million per year before acknowledging that he had confused this amount with the cost over four years.

State of the evidence

veto, financial certificate and public correction documented

Legal status — source text

valid parliamentary veto; no judicial proceedings

Attribution

personal responsibility as Finance Minister exercising the veto and initially defending an incorrect figure

English voted against legalising same-sex marriage in 2013. In 2016, he said he would vote differently if the question arose again, stating that the change had proved positive.

State of the evidence

parliamentary vote and change of position documented

Legal status — source text

no judicial proceedings

Attribution

personal responsibility for his vote and evolving position

Bill English was criticised for receiving an allowance relating to a family home held through a trust. He repaid approximately NZ$32,000 and changed his arrangements to avoid the appearance of personal benefit.

State of the evidence

payments, repayment and official review documented

Legal status — source text

Auditor-General: declarations correctly completed and no grounds for further investigation

Attribution

personal responsibility for the arrangement and repayment; no fraud established