National Party Donations

Case Timeline

• November 2023Nov 2023
  Court of Appeal quashes obtaining by deception convictions for Yikun Zhang, Shija (Colin) Zheng and Henjia (Joe) Zheng. Joe Zheng's conviction for obstructing an investigation is upheld.
• November 2022Nov 2022
  Yikun Zhang sentenced to four months’ community detention and 200 hours of community work. Shijia (Colin) Zheng sentenced to five months’ community detention and 250 hours’ community work. Henjia (Joe) Zheng sentenced to three months’ community detention and 150 hours’ community work.
  
  All three defendants have appealed their sentence and conviction.
• October 2022Oct 2022
  Following the joint Labour and National Party donations trial, a mix of verdicts was returned:
  
  Yikun Zhang was found guilty in relation to a 2018 donation of $100,050 to the National Party. He was found not guilty in relation to a 2017 donation of $100,000 to the party.
  Colin Zheng was found guilty in relation to both donations.
  Joe Zheng was found guilty in relation to the 2018 donation as well as guilty of obstructing the SFO investigation by providing false or misleading information.
  Jami-Lee Ross was found not guilty on all charges.
  
  Mr Zhang, Mr Zheng, Mr Zheng and three others with name suppression were found not guilty on charges related to a donation to the Labour Party in 2017.
• September 2021Sep 2021
  Trial scheduled for 25 July 2022 and has been joined with the Labour Party donations trial.
• August 2021Aug 2021
  Trial adjourned – new trial date to be confirmed
• February 2020Feb 2020
  Defendants plead not guilty to charges brought by the SFO in the Auckland District Court on 25 February.
• January 2020Jan 2020
  SFO files charges against four people on 29 January.
• March 2019Mar 2019
  The SFO confirms receipt of political donations referral by Police on 12 March.