Almost $500,000 in large declarable donations has already flooded into the New Zealand political landscape for 2026 as election year kicks off.
It's an earlier start compared to the 2023 election year.
The first hefty donation started with Pure Advantage founder Phillip Mills, of Les Mills gyms. On January 8 he donated $50,000 to the Opportunity Party - newly rebranded from The Opportunities Party (TOP). Mills in 2023 donated $50,000 to both the Greens and Labour.
Mills told Interest.co.nz he was interested in environmental issues and particularly dealing with climate change.
"I'm basically supporting anybody who is properly dealing with issues that need to be dealt with around climate change," he said. He planned to also donate to the Greens and Labour.
Mills' 2026 donation was followed by three separate donations from Auckland building and civil engineering businessman Michael Sullivan, who donated $200,000 in total across the government coalition parties.
On January 20, Sullivan donated $50,000 to NZ First, $50,000 to ACT and $100,000 to National.
Sullivan donated $50,000 each to ACT and National in mid-2023. Sullivan was contacted but preferred not to comment for this story.
A day later on January 21, Aucklander Mary O’Brien donated $22,333 to the Labour Party.
Earlier this month Van Den Brink Karaka Limited, and Zuru Toys founder Nicholas Mowbray, each separately donated $100,000 to ACT.
Mowbray donated $50,000 in June 2023 and $100,000 in March 2023 to ACT ahead of the last election.
Large donations above $20,000 must be declared to the Electoral Commission within 20 working days during the 2026 election year, up to a day before the election.
The 2023 election year only saw large donations of $20,000 and above come in from February 22, the Electoral Commission confirmed.
That period was particularly turbulent - former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announcing her resignation and the election date on January 19, before now Labour leader Chris Hipkins took over as prime minister a week later.
In non-election years, donations, including large donations, are declared in annual returns, with the 2025 batch scheduled for release in April.
Prior to 2023, the donation declaration threshold was $30,000 from a single donor in a 12-month period.
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