New Zealand foreign minister's party cleared in fraud probe (AFP)

WELLINGTON (AFP) - The political party led by New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters was cleared Friday in a fraud investigation into donations by wealthy benefactors. Peters stood down temporarily from his ministerial portfolios in August when the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) announced it was investigating whether the donations to his New Zealand First party had been used as intended. SFO director Grant Liddell said Friday there was no basis for fraud charges to be laid, but the way donations were handled may have broken other laws. These would be investigated by the police and the electoral regulator, who are conducting their own investigations, he said. Peters, who was last month censured by the New Zealand parliament... [read full story]