Banks private prosecution begins

Written By: - Date published: 8:23 am, December 11th, 2012 - 36 comments
Categories: john banks, law and "order" - Tags:

The hearing into the private prosecution of John Banks over his ‘anonymous’ mayoral donations begins today. That the private prosecution has got this far shows the judge believes there is a prima facie case – which puts the Police to shame for failing to take Banks to court. Banks is trying to avoid taking the stand, but I don’t see how he ultimately can.

I think this is going to end badly for Banks. It’s clear as daylight that he knew he had received donations from both SkyCity and Kim Dotcom. He received the SkyCity cheque personally at a meeting called for the specific purpose of handing over the cheque. He had a phone call with Dotcom’s staff to confirm the donation had been received and to thank him. Later, Banks would identify the donation as a reason to not be seen to be associated with Dotcom when he was in jail. Yet, Banks signed a statutory declaration that noted those donations as anonymous.

If Banks goes down in this case, it’s going to get very hard for Key to keep him on as a minister (Banks’ seat won’t be automatically vacated because the offence needs to be punishable by over 2 years in prison for that). Key has repeatedly claimed that the legal test is all he is worried about. But I’m sure he’ll find a way to worm out of that.

36 comments on “Banks private prosecution begins ”

  1. coronial typer 1

    I am so looking forward to this.

    Parliament is beginning to smell like Roquefort cheese.

    [lprent: Not directed at you CT. Just a general warning.

    Remember that this is front of a court. People trying to walk past the legal bounds will get a severe bans. If you want to troll, then this is not the place for it becaus ethere will be quite a lot of moderator attention focused here today.

    ]

    • aerobubble 1.1

      A man was fired for his union membership, yet there’s one minister who lost a portfolio for the Pike river mine disaster who got less work for the same pay, and it seems also that there are many civil engineers who looked over, help designed, who built or who authenticated the CTV building who have yet to see any punishment.

      Seems very weird to me, the more powerful they are, the more educated, the less they have to do despite even deaths. The less educated, the less powerful, and you’re fired.

      Insurance premiums are going to rise if there is no responsibility amongst those working in the building industry for their buildings. No wonder so many are jumping the ditch, work is so underpaid, and so easy to get fired and be exposed to downside costs (which cannot be abated by healthy wages when in work).

  2. post-colonial viper 2

    Where are the chips ? Where are the chips ?

    This beats TV.

  3. CodyHM 3

    His seat wouldn’t automatically be vacated? Forgive my ignorance but that means he’d stay as a Minister in Parliament?
    I’m sure somehow Johnny boy will keep him in – though that rather perturbs me knowing that someone convicted of a criminal offence gets to stay in Government.
    Does anyone know exactly what the charges are?

  4. TheContrarian 4

    I hope he gets fucked.

  5. marsman 5

    Who is bringing the private prosecution?

    • Graham McCready (sp?), the same person who brought the private prosecution against Trevor Mallard.

      • marsman 5.1.1

        Thank you Graeme.

      • Whaleoil 5.1.2

        Is that the same Graham McCready in court today for a pre-trial hearing on charges of blackmail?

        R v McCready before Justice Collins in Wellington…

        Why yes I think it is.

        • bad12 5.1.2.1

          Your point being???, are you suggesting that this,(supposed), appearance in another Court of the person prosecuting Bank’s in some way disqualifies the complainant from that prosecution???,

          Perhaps, (snigger), you consider Banks to be ‘a true innocent’….

          • One Tāne Viper 5.1.2.1.1

            It’s the usual witless wingnut excuse: “He did it too!”

            Except, as one would expect from the flailing, thrashing, Mr. Oil, he isn’t even comparing similar offences.

            • bad12 5.1.2.1.1.1

              LOLZ, yeah i don’t expect to hear anything from Blubber-boy that would be in any way educational or mind-changing,

              Just gave ‘it’ a wee poke looking for signs of life, deliberately left ‘intelligent’ out of that last bit as there’s no point questioning known facts…

  6. Colon Diaper 6

    I heard there will be video evidence involving liaisons with a p user

  7. burt 7

    That the private prosecution has got this far shows the judge believes there is a prima facie case

    He needs a little retrospective validation and we all need to move on… Hey if we do that and kill off the court case supporters of corrupt self serving government might say he’s the best we ever had….

  8. If Banks goes down in this case, it’s going to get very hard for Key to keep him on as a minister (Banks’ seat won’t be automatically vacated because the offence needs to be punishable by over 2 years in prison for that).

    If Banks is convicted, that will automatically result in him losing his seat. MPs lose their seats if convicted of an offence punishable by at least two years’ imprisonment. If the maximum is exactly two years’ that’s still enough.

    • burt 8.1

      That’s why we need retrospective validations Graeme – it quickly kills off pesky private prosecutions and lets the people who know the law better than us (because they wrote it) follow their own interpretation and ignore silly people who know nothing … like pesky Auditor Generals and the like….

      • That’s why we need retrospective validations Graeme – it quickly kills off pesky private prosecutions

        Section 6 of the Appropriation (Parliamentary Expenditure Validation) Act, which you appear to be discussing, provided that:

        6 Act does not affect criminal liability
        Nothing in this Act affects the criminal liability of any person.

         

        • alwyn 8.1.1.1

          Graeme Edgeler.
          A little bit off topic but if retrospective validation is being discussed I might be allowed to get this through.
          Some years ago Harry Duynhoeven took Dutch citizenship. This is (or was) grounds for losing your seat in Parliament. The then speaker, Jonathon Hunt refused to accept the notification of this and the then Government whipped through a retrospective law change so Harry could keep his seat.
          A lawyer friend of mine said, although from a very cursory reading of the law, that in his view the seat had been vacated at the moment of taking the citizenship and NOT when Parliament was informed. If this was the case the effect of the law whipped through was to appoint someone to a vacant electorate seat without a by-election. Did you ever have a look at this?

          • Graeme Edgeler 8.1.1.1.1

            I did, and thought the behaviour of the government in legislating was poor, but the decision of the Speaker to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee wasn’t as bad as many made out. The question of who gets to be a member of Parliament has always been a question of privilege (in particular, the composition privilege of Parliament), and I am confident that decision was made on advice from the Clerk.

    • Rich 8.2

      He’d be able to stand again if not actually in jail when the by-election was called, though? And I’m sure the voters of Epsom would back him to the hilt.

  9. David Viperious H 9

    But Now will be the time the Lawyers earn their money by trying to stop shonkyJohn2 getting into court, as he must know if he’s convicted, then ShonkyJohn1 won’t be able to keep him around any more. And that means no more easy taxpayer troughing for him and maybe even a fine, or gulp Jail.

    • burt 9.1

      No lawyers required… Just validate and move on – The self serving Clark administration showed the way to use parliament in the best interest of the government …..

  10. bad12 10

    Dear John,

    It’s ok you can appear in the Wellington District Court and i promise not to show up with a mouthful of vitriol explaining your short-comings as i see them in the most abusive and humiliating language i can muster as i did for your last appearance at the same venue while you were Minister of Police in a previous Government,

    Be a good little boy and show at least a modicum of testicular fortitude by fronting up at the district Court to face your accusers and answer their accusations wont you???…

    • post-colonial viper 10.1

      Err.. what is “testicular fortitude” ?

      “Intestinal fortitude” makes sense.

      • One Tāne Viper 10.1.1

        Bad12 is saying Banks hasn’t got the balls to show his face in court.

      • If someone lacks intestinal fortitude they haven’t go the guts (to do something), so presumably, someone who lacks testicular fortitude doesn’t have the balls…

  11. post-colonial viper 11

    Thanks OTV. I am still grappling with the sexual allusions of the Pakeha.

    • One Tāne Viper 11.1

      Don’t mention it. I should point out that it is not the sexual connotations of testicles that makes them an appropriate metaphor for fortitude, but rather their function as a source of testosterone.

    • bad12 11.2

      No need for me to answer that particular query then as it has been so abley addressed by other comments,

      I was at the Wellington District Court on Banks previous appearance and had the pleasure of being able to directly address the then Minister of Police directly while He awaited the Judge,

      Upon being called to the dock Banks showed a definite lack of any sort of fortitude and there was a few seconds of physical grappling as Banks tried, (and failed), to manhandle His Police liason officer Inspector Sharky into the dock ahead of Him as if in some way Sharky shared His guilt,

      Like all ‘newbies’ to the Court process Banks looked terrified at having to enter the dock and plead…

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • PM announces changes to portfolios
    Paul Goldsmith will take on responsibility for the Media and Communications portfolio, while Louise Upston will pick up the Disability Issues portfolio, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced today. “Our Government is relentlessly focused on getting New Zealand back on track. As issues change in prominence, I plan to adjust Ministerial ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • New catch limits for unique fishery areas
    Recreational catch limits will be reduced in areas of Fiordland and the Chatham Islands to help keep those fisheries healthy and sustainable, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. The lower recreational daily catch limits for a range of finfish and shellfish species caught in the Fiordland Marine Area and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    24 hours ago
  • Minister welcomes hydrogen milestone
    Energy Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed an important milestone in New Zealand’s hydrogen future, with the opening of the country’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Wiri. “I want to congratulate the team at Hiringa Energy and its partners K one W one (K1W1), Mitsui & Co New Zealand ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Urgent changes to system through first RMA Amendment Bill
    The coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to improve resource management laws and give greater certainty to consent applicants, with a Bill to amend the Resource Management Act (RMA) expected to be introduced to Parliament next month. RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop has today outlined the first RMA Amendment ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Overseas decommissioning models considered
    Overseas models for regulating the oil and gas sector, including their decommissioning regimes, are being carefully scrutinised as a potential template for New Zealand’s own sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is focused on rebuilding investor confidence in New Zealand’s energy sector as it looks to strengthen ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Release of North Island Severe Weather Event Inquiry
    Emergency Management and Recovery Minister Mark Mitchell has today released the Report of the Government Inquiry into the response to the North Island Severe Weather Events. “The report shows that New Zealand’s emergency management system is not fit-for-purpose and there are some significant gaps we need to address,” Mr Mitchell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Justice Minister to attend Human Rights Council
    Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith is today travelling to Europe where he’ll update the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Government’s work to restore law and order.  “Attending the Universal Periodic Review in Geneva provides us with an opportunity to present New Zealand’s human rights progress, priorities, and challenges, while ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Patterson reopens world’s largest wool scouring facility
    Associate Agriculture Minister, Mark Patterson, formally reopened the world’s largest wool processing facility today in Awatoto, Napier, following a $50 million rebuild and refurbishment project. “The reopening of this facility will significantly lift the economic opportunities available to New Zealand’s wool sector, which already accounts for 20 per cent of ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Speech to the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective Summit, 18 April 2024
    Hon Andrew Bayly, Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing  At the Southland Otago Regional Engineering Collective (SOREC) Summit, 18 April, Dunedin    Ngā mihi nui, Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Ko Whanganui aho    Good Afternoon and thank you for inviting me to open your summit today.    I am delighted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government to introduce revised Three Strikes law
    The Government is delivering on its commitment to bring back the Three Strikes legislation, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today. “Our Government is committed to restoring law and order and enforcing appropriate consequences on criminals. We are making it clear that repeat serious violent or sexual offending is not ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • New diplomatic appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today announced four new diplomatic appointments for New Zealand’s overseas missions.   “Our diplomats have a vital role in maintaining and protecting New Zealand’s interests around the world,” Mr Peters says.    “I am pleased to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Humanitarian support for Ethiopia and Somalia
    New Zealand is contributing NZ$7 million to support communities affected by severe food insecurity and other urgent humanitarian needs in Ethiopia and Somalia, Foreign Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters announced today.   “Over 21 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, with a further 6.9 million people ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Arts Minister congratulates Mataaho Collective
    Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Paul Goldsmith is congratulating Mataaho Collective for winning the Golden Lion for best participant in the main exhibition at the Venice Biennale. "Congratulations to the Mataaho Collective for winning one of the world's most prestigious art prizes at the Venice Biennale.  “It is good ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Supporting better financial outcomes for Kiwis
    The Government is reforming financial services to improve access to home loans and other lending, and strengthen customer protections, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly and Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced today. “Our coalition Government is committed to rebuilding the economy and making life simpler by cutting red tape. We are ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Trade relationship with China remains strong
    “China remains a strong commercial opportunity for Kiwi exporters as Chinese businesses and consumers continue to value our high-quality safe produce,” Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says.   Mr McClay has returned to New Zealand following visits to Beijing, Harbin and Shanghai where he met ministers, governors and mayors and engaged in trade and agricultural events with the New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • PM’s South East Asia mission does the business
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has completed a successful trip to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, deepening relationships and capitalising on opportunities. Mr Luxon was accompanied by a business delegation and says the choice of countries represents the priority the New Zealand Government places on South East Asia, and our relationships in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-24T20:30:28+00:00