The National Party received more than $6 million in party donations last year, almost $4 million more than the Labour Party.

And the Act Party, led by Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour, pipped Labour, reporting $2,445,255 in donations to Labour’s $2,403,241.

A breakdown of the donations political parties reported in the 2025 year has just been released by the Electoral Commission.

Parties must make annual returns, including identifying individuals, trusts or companies who gave more than $5000.

National topped the list with $6,275,234 in party donations overall. This is more than the party received in 2024 but still below the $10m it received for the 2023 election.

The largest donor to National was the late Nelson philanthropist John Wares, who died in March last year. Wares gave $210,000 to the party in February 2025.

The second largest donation came from Brian Cartmell, a Queenstown-based tech entrepreneur.

 
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's National party received the most donations in 2025. Photo / Alyse Wright

Other big donors include Sistema founder Brendan Lindsay and former Xero boss Sir Rod Drury, who is currently facing allegations of unwanted advances towards women, which he has denied.

Several companies donated smaller amounts to National, including property company Mansons, Crimson Education, Gibbston Valley Wines and Chinese vocational education provider Oriental Wisdom. Several MPs also donated money.

Labour

The more than $6m in donations reported by the National Party dwarfs the $2,403,241 reported by Labour. Two of the larger donations to Labour were by or connected to Phillip Mills, managing director of the Les Mills gym franchise and a regular political donor.

The Mills Family Trust, for which Phillip Mills is the trustee, donated $125,000, and Mills himself donated another $38,200. Renowned artist Dick Frizzell donated almost $20,000, and former Prime Minister Helen Clark is listed as donating just under $11,000.

Celebrated artist Dick Frizzell was a donor to Labour in 2025. Photo / Dean Purcell.

Labour Party MPs also donated tens of thousands. Party leader Chris Hipkins gave just under $13,000.

NZ First, Greens, TPM

The Green Party reported $1,848,678 in donations, including $50,000 from the Les Mills managing director, and $100,000 from Nelson businessman Michael Lookman. Green MPs gave tens of thousands as donations as well.

NZ First reported $1,360,272 in donations for 2025. Cartmell topped the list with a $205,000 donation. Dorothy Jones, the partner of minister Shane Jones and a party board member, donated just over $131,000.

The Opportunities Party received $179,401 in donations, more than double the amount it reported in 2024. Te Pāti Māori reported $142,000 in donations, including $60,000 from party president John Tamihere.

Julia Gabel is a Wellington-based political reporter. She joined the Herald in 2020 and has most recently focused on data journalism.