Peters vs SFO

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has described the Serious Fraud Office announcement of an investigation as ridiculous in the extreme.

SFO boss Grant Liddell has announced he is launching an investigation. Allegations it will probe, include claims donations by Sir Robert Jones and the Vela family did not reach their intended destination.

Mr Liddell says it is entirely possible there are innocent and honest explanations. But he says he has sufficient information to give him reason to suspect an investigation may reveal serious fraud.

Mr Peters says nobody from the Serious Fraud Office has spoken to him about any of the matters they allegedly had been making inquiries about. He claims if they had talked to him, the matter would have been cleared up in a few minutes.

Mr Peters says the SFO did not even have the courtesy to tell him about its decision - and he heard it on the radio.

The New Zealand First leader says the investigation can be laid at his past criticism of the SFO, for failing to follow up on major taxation cases involving hundreds millions of dollars over ten years ago. He says more recent events at the law and order select committee have probably also played a part.

Mr Peters says his party will meet the investigation head on.