Green co-leader James Shaw gave the party more than $20,000 last year under the party's "tithing" system.

National received almost $2 million in donations last year compared to just $564,000 given to Labour, according to returns supplied to the Electoral Commission.

The annual returns show the Green Party's donations topped Labour's with more than $850,000 flowing into party coffers during the year, although that included one large bequest and five-figure donations from each of the party's 14 MPs.

Only one donation was revealed under the mechanism for protected disclosure available to those giving more than $1500 who do not want their identity known to the public or the party that received it.

JOSEPH JOHNSON/FAIRFAX NZ Labour MP Poto Williams gave the party $16,000 during 2016.

The donation was for $44,628, made to the National Party.

READ MORE: National rakes in big dollars from small(ish) donations

Other significant donations to National included $40,000 from direct debit billing and payment services firm Transaction Services Ltd

Stonyridge vineyard on Waikeke Island gave $20,825 and a similar amount came from investment company HWM (NZ) Holdings.

Individuals who gave National close to $30,000 were Wayne Wright of Tauranga, Roger Gordon of Cambridge, Christine Che of Auckland, Lady Judi Gallagher of Hamilton and Paul Adams of Tauranga while real estate company director Garth Barfoot gave $25,000.

The biggest single donation to the Greens was from the estate of Elizabeth Riddoch of Nelson, of $283,835.

The Greens last year said it was the largest ever donation, but it knews nothing about the donor, who was not a party member and did not have any links to the party.

Les Mills chief executive Philip Mills - a regular contributor to the Greens - ​gave $65,000.

Donations from MPs under the salary "tithing" system operated by the party ranged from $15,000 from former MP Kevin Hague up to $20,402 from co-leader James Shaw.

Labour's biggest donation was $30,000 from the Dairy Workers' Union. Artist Karl Maughan and the Delargy family Trust each gave the party $24,000 and retired judge Robert Smellie QC donated $16,000.

Christchurch East MP Poto Williams donated $16,300

ACT received $52,200 from philanthropist and art collector Dame Jenny Gibbs via a trust.

All donations of more than $15,000 in goods, services and cash must be disclosed.

The total donations disclosed for 2016 were:

National: $1,943,324

Greens: $860,746

Labour: $563,915

Conservatives: $139,450

ACT: $108,730

NZ First: $54,946

Maori Party: $42,237

United Future: Nil

Mana: Nil