Shane Jones steps into case between company owned by 'my mother's cousin' and NZTA

Wednesday, 3 April 2019

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones raised NZ Transport Agency's case against a Northland trucking company with the chief executive of the regulator.

Jones has confirmed he is related to the company's managing director, Stan Semenoff, and that he accepted a $2000 donation from the former Whangarei mayor in 2008.

On Wednesday told the New Zealand Herald reported that Jones had made warnings about the 'economic implications' of the case between the New Zealand Transport Agency and Stan Semenoff Logging.

Jones reportedly said he was 'concerned about the future of 1000 jobs in Northland which could be on the line' due to the court case.

On March 15, NZTA moved to revoke Whangarei-based Stan Semenoff Logging's transport service licence over long standing safety concerns.

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones has warned about the 'economic implications' of a case between the New Zealand Transport Agency and Semenoff Logging, which won a High Court reprieve from being ordered off the road due to ongoing safety issues. Jones has previously described the principal of Semenoff Logging, Stan Semenoff as 'my mother's cousin'.

At the time First Union, which represents log truck drivers, welcomed the move.

Stan Semenoff Logging was ordered to stop work from March 22, however the company, which has clocked up 116 speed and traffic-related offences in the last four years, successfully applied to the High Court to be given the right to stay on the road for now.

Jones, who also holds the Associate Transport portfolio, told Parliament that the had a 'brief' discussion with the chief executive of NZTA. He did not describe the discussion.

NZTA has not yet commented on Jones' statement.

Jones also confirmed that he is related to Semenoff.

According to a report in the Otago Daily Times in 2009, Jones said the donation from Semenoff was because 'he's my mother's cousin'.

In Question Time, Jones said Semenoff's 'great, great grandmother is my mother's great, great, great grandmother'.

Initially Jones' office had denied a donation from Semenoff, but Jones confirmed to Parliament that he had declared a 'koha' from Semenoff from the 2008 election.

Jones said in Parliament that he would not discuss the case further, but 'there is no stone that should be put upon the tongue of the champion of the regions, to talk about the implications of decision that our Government may from time to time be held accountable for'.

He went on to say that the case was because 'people are entitled to test whether or not statutory authority has been exceeded'.

Semenoff has been contacted for comment.

National's regional development spokesman Paul Goldsmith had earlier said it was inappropriate for Jones to make any comment about the NZTA case given the matter was before the courts. It appeared Jones was attempting to put pressure on NZTA, Goldsmith said.

'It is constitutionally inappropriate for any minister to wade in on a matter before the courts which is exactly what Mr Jones has done by saying an adverse outcome for Semenoff Logging in its case against the NZTA could lead to job losses in Northland. We need to know the full extent of his inappropriate behaviour,' Goldsmith said.

'It makes it worse if there is a perception of some form of relationship there. He has more questions to answer.'

Act leader David Seymour said Jones had a pattern of inappropriate conduct as a minister and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern should sanction him.

'It is a long-established principle that Ministers should avoid any comment that could be seen as being intended to influence the courts. Judges must be free to determine cases according to the law, based on the evidence, free from the influence of Ministers.'