Statement on the Cathedral Club

​First posted on Facebook, 18 October 2018

Given recent political news over “the Cathedral Club”, I’d like to note that it was an informal pay-your-own-way dinner club that started in 2001, comprised of a small group of Young Nats and old friends from university days. It met in the Cathedral Room of the old Auckland Club, which had pictures of NZ churches and cathedrals on the wall. I know this because I was a regular dinner attendee and one of the organisers. The last dinner was probably around 2008. 

Cathedral Club dinner in 2006 with Hon Dr Michael Bassett

The dinner club was all about great conversation with interesting guests across the political divide, such as Rt Hon Winston Peters, Rt Hon Jonathan Hunt, the late advertising supremo David Walden, Chris Trotter, Rodney Hide, Dr Paul Buchanan, Dr Michael Bassett and Michelle Boag.

These days, it’s easier for me to donate to parties, causes and charities than it is to participate on committees and help in campaigns as I once did. I’d rather be following my passions of watching my children play football, collecting NZ art, and getting involved in some great NZ tech companies. So I’m happy to be noted as giving $10,000 to the National Party in 2017. In addition, I have supported candidates in National with lesser sized donations in the past.

I won't be making any further statements on the matter.

Links:   NZ Herald article
             TVNZ article
             Newshub article

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