Photo: Otago Daily Times / Luisa Girao
A newly-appointed KiwiRail board director is associated with a company which donated to NZ First.
Scott O'Donnell is one of the four directors of Dynes Transport Tapanui, which donated $20,000 to NZ First in July 2024.
The company is also involved in a project which recently received a government regional infrastructure loan of $8 million.
Political scientist Bryce Edwards said even though party donations are not considered to be a conflict of interest, he believed it was a "perfect storm" of factors, which can erode trust in the political system.
"It's definitely this type of relationship that leads to, at the very least, a perception of a quid-pro-quo arrangement whereby donations give the donors special treatment in governmen
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