PM Key's interests shows deposit with foreign trust specialist

Tuesday 12th April 2016

Prime Minister John Key's register of interests has revealed he has a short-term deposit in a company specialising in New Zealand foreign trusts.

The Antipodes Trust Group is listed under debtors in Key's information published to Parliament. The Antipodes Trust Group's website describes the company as a 'specialist provider of trustee and associated services for foreign trusts using New Zealand as their jurisdiction of choice'.

The Companies Office lists a director of the Antipodes Trust Group as Ken Whitney. A spokeswoman for Key has said that Whitney is the Prime Minister's private lawyer.

On Monday, Key ordered an independent look at the status of NZ foreign trusts in the light of the publication of the so-called 'Panama Papers'. The former chairman of PwC NZ, John Shewan, is to report back by the end of June. He insisted he had made no use of foreign trusts in his personal affairs.

Labour leader Andrew Little today tabled his tax returns for the last five years in Parliament and called for the Prime Minister to do likewise. Key has said he does not intend to do so.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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