‘Minister not involved’
PA Wellington The financial middleman at the centre of the Maori Affairs loan controversy says the Minister of Maori Affairs, Mr Wetere, was not directly involved in the loan negotiations.
But the Hawaii-based entrepreneur, Mr Michael Gisondi, told Television New Zealand he was approached to be broker by a Maori Affairs adviser, Mr “Rocky” Cribb, who
carried a letter of introduction from the Minister. Apart from brief opening introductions involving Mr Cribb in September, Mr Gisondi said he had dealt throughout with the Secretary for Maori Affairs, Dr Tamati Reedy. Asked whether he had ever had dealings with Mr Wetere, Mr Gisondi said he had not. Mr Gisondi said he had not had any discussions
with any other Minister of the New Zealand Government. None of the money involved was from Ferdinand Marcos, the former Philippines leader, as had been suggested in Parliament, he said.
The allegation of laundering Marcos money could destroy him, he said, but he would not reveal the source of the proposed loan.
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Press, 19 December 1986, Page 4
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170‘Minister not involved’ Press, 19 December 1986, Page 4
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