Labour hits the motherlode

Written By: - Date published: 7:16 am, September 13th, 2012 - 82 comments
Categories: auckland supercity, corruption, john banks, john key, local body elections - Tags:

The Police Report into the Banks.com affair, which Labour has distributed to the media, is a gold mine. Banks is shown to be a liar and completely unethical.

It’s a huge report and things will keep being discovered, but here’s some of the remarkable points so far:

Banks insisted that Dotcom’s donation be anonymised saying “I want to help you, Kim, and I can help you more effectively if no one knows about this donation”.

Then – having said that anonymous donations would let him help Dotcom – Banks used the donations, which he had just a few days earlier told media he didn’t remember, as an excuse not to help Dotcom while a minister:

Gregory Powers, a partner at Simpson Grierson, told police Mr Banks telephoned him in February – a few weeks after Dotcom was arrested on US anti-piracy charges.

Only a few days earlier he had told media he hardly knew the internet tycoon.

In fact, Dotcom gave a $50,000 donation to Mr Banks’ campaign to be Auckland supercity mayor in 2010, which was declared as anonymous.

A witness statement from Mr Powers reveals he contacted Mr Banks, by then MP for Epsom, on February 8, to ask for his help in getting an additional mattress for Dotcom’s Mt Eden cell. Mr Banks called back the next day.

“John Banks said that as much as [he] wished to publicly support Kim that may backfire on Kim if it became known about the election support,” Mr Powers said. “He said he was very supportive however of Kim’s case.”

Then, there’s the SkyCity donation, which Banks’ campaign ‘disguised’ at the request of SkyCity.

SkyCity executives told police they made the donation openly after meeting a request for money from Len Brown, now the super city’s mayor.

The treasurer later rang SkyCity’s legal department to ask if it was an “anonymous” donation.

A friend who worked there told him it should be disguised – leading to questions when the donation to Mr Brown was later revealed.

Banks is lying low now. Farrar is desperately trying to run distraction for the Government. So was David Carter when he timed the announcement of changes of the local government election rules to coincide with the release of the OIA.

Key has to sack Banks, or spend the rest of the year being kicked around the House.

82 comments on “Labour hits the motherlode ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Carol 1
    13 September 2012 at 7:52 am

    Hmmmm…. one wonders what sort of heckling Banks was getting from labour in the House yesterday during question time.

    At least a couple of times Banks complained to the Speaker about that unruly behaviour and noise coming from the opposition benches. He was quite indignant and uppity when he said that behaviour in the House had reached an unacceptable low.

    Mind you, if I was in the House with this government of anti-democratic, beneficiary hating, elitists and crony capitalists who are waging a viscous war on the poor…. I’d find it pretty hard not to loudly vent my anger at the government benches.

    Banks was also seeking financial support from people on the NBR rich list. Banks strikes me as not being the most intelligent MP we have, but he certainly has made a mission out of sucking up to the rich and powerful…. and he’s a bit of a sleaze with it

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7664819/John-Banks-told-lawyer-of-Dotcom-donation

    On meeting Dotcom’s wife, Mona, right, John Banks declared her “the most beautiful woman I have ever seen”. Dotcom told police: “I was surprised he would say that with his own wife [Amanda] present.”

  2. irascible 2
    13 September 2012 at 8:19 am

    Ethics and morality dont rank high in the behaviour and thinking of those who fly close to money speculators and other double dippers at any time. Banks has certainly demonstrated that, like Wong, it s a key essential in this government.

  3. Carol 3
    13 September 2012 at 8:36 am

    And Andrew Geddis reckons that the name of another donor to Banks has been redacted from the OI available on the NZ Herald site. He refers to section of the official information act, to support his argument that the name of this donor should be made available to the public:

    http://www.pundit.co.nz/content/why-dont-i-have-a-right-to-know-what-i-have-a-right-to-know

    At various places, there has been material redacted from the document the Police provided. That’s not unusual in itself – the Official Information Act allows for information to be witheld for a variety of reasons. But in this particular case, the information that has been blanked out includes the names of an individual donor to Banks’ campaign whose donation was listed by Banks as coming from an “anonymous” source, but that the Police concluded ought not to have been because he both knew the donor’s identity and the fact the donor had made the particular donation.

  4. Rosie 4
    13 September 2012 at 8:53 am

    “Key has to sack Banks, or spend the rest of the year being kicked around the house”……….

    You would expect so wouldn’t you. However I just listened to the weekly interview with Grant Robertson on Radio Active just now and when asked about the liklihood of JB being sacked Roberston repsonded saying he believes JK won’t sack JB as he needs his vote, and he needs his vote especially for asset sales, otherwise he “will be beholden to the Maori Party……….”

    He also went on to say that he feels JK’s view is that “if you can get away with it, then theres no harm done” and with the track record of questionable ethics and behaviour and breaches of protocol over the last 4 years from JK himself and his ministers that seems like a reasonable estimation of JK’s attitude. They’ve lowered the standards and they don’t care so I’m thinking, is JK really going to let the 126 page police report into JB’s dodgy donations saga get in his way?

    • SpaceMonkey 4.1
      13 September 2012 at 10:17 am

      JK’s view is that “if you can get away with it, then theres no harm done” and with the track record of questionable ethics and behaviour and breaches of protocol over the last 4 years from JK himself and his ministers that seems like a reasonable estimation of JK’s attitude. They’ve lowered the standards and they don’t care so I’m thinking, is JK really going to let the 126 page police report into JB’s dodgy donations saga get in his way?

      Of course he’s not… he needs Banksies vote. But that attitude is completely consistent with other Wall St and City of London psychpaths who adhere to the view that criminal and illegal behaviour in finance is victimless crime.

    • Dr Terry 4.2
      13 September 2012 at 11:39 am

      Key has urgently “needed” Banks from the time of the infamous tea-party. What would it take for Key to sack him?

  5. Tiger Mountain 5
    13 September 2012 at 9:05 am

    There is more digging to be done on Banksie. Who stole his Harley motorcycle and why, for a starter. C’mon you journos.

    • tc 5.1
      13 September 2012 at 1:32 pm

      Yup and a good time for some alleged footage where our creationist charter school fan boy indulges his desires and highlighting his double standards further.

      Key could sack him as a minister and look all tough and righteous but the sleeze will still vote with them so I’m not seeing anything short of removal as an MP as meaningful.

    • HalfCrown Millionare 5.2
      13 September 2012 at 7:13 pm

      You are not going to get any “indepth investigative reporting” by the so called MSM journos of today. Remember Helengate over the signed painting, and the big stir that went on for weeks. Why? because she was from the left. You will not get the same amount of coverage if it is against one of their lover boys from the right. On TV1 pathetic excuse of a news channel tonight they “just” reported about Banks and how people are protesting. Oh Hum, more important things to report, move on, nothing to see as we have more important news item like the Tiddlywink Championship somewhere. That’s about the level of coverage you are going to get from these right wing pathetic excuse of journo arsholes.

      • gobsmacked 5.2.1
        13 September 2012 at 7:28 pm

        Did you see the front page of the Herald today?

        Did you see the reporting on Banks/Dotcom done by Campbell Live? Over months?

        Yes, One News and Close-Up are poor, but it’s simply a cop-out to blame all the MSM journos. They are paid far less than the MPs whose job it is to hold the government to account. But in many cases, they have done a better job than some (not all) of those MPs.

    • Hami Shearlie 5.3
      13 September 2012 at 10:54 pm

      I’ve heard rumours of a surveillence videotape showing Mr Banks in a “bad light”!! Anyone know anything about this?

  6. xtasy 6
    13 September 2012 at 9:18 am

    Banks is a total idiot and the tragic clown of Parliament now. He deserves nothing else. His whole life he was a staunch right-winger within National, crusading against crime, poor morals, gambling, drinking and corrupt practices, look at him now.

    He went into local body politics in Auckland, was mayor during the explosion of apartment buildings within the CBD, and many of these have since been exposed as “leaky buildings”, rotting from the inside. He has always favoured private enterprise, privatisation and he supported that in local and national politics.

    Himself being in business, he has run restaurants and other outfits selling alcoholic beverages, while he rallied against alcohol abuse and liberalisation of the law. He was involved with Huljich – an investment company, where some director(s) were convicted of fraudulent behaviour.

    Losing the Auckland mayoralty to Len Brown he was in a vacuum, then jumped at the chance to join the ACT Party. With Brash he was involved in the coup of ACT by National, then stood for Epsom, and as his voter base was not strong enough, he consulted Key over the famous “cuppa” to excite the media and to get public attention. We know what happened re that.

    Before that incident he lobbied for donations while running for mayor of Auckland, getting cosy with Dotcom, a mega rich new resident, whom he was going to help by the looks of things. Donations were solicited, and Dotcom states this clearly in the evidence supplied to the police.

    Yet now “Banksie” goes around saying he was a “victim” of the law, which was “an ass”. He dares to take the attack mode of defence and tries to distract from what really happened, and why police let him off. So he tries to moralise in Parliament, but only making a dick of himself.

    This O.I.A. exposed police report comes at the right time, to put him back into his place.

    Bizarre was also, that Banks as ACT MP, who always was critical of homosexual law reform, and who as a supposed Christian strongly upholds “traditional” marriage and other “values”, was forced to vote in favour of the passing of the 1st reading of the gay marriage law proposals.

    I hope that one day a comedy movie will be made of this man. I am sure Kim Dotcom has the resources and ideas to make this another great “HIT”. It may be a kind of “tragic comedy”, it there is such.

    His conduct only increases the contempt I and surely many others must have – not only towards this man, but adds to that towards a fair few others sitting in Parliament without good reason, except for having conned voters into getting them in there.

    • Carol 6.1
      13 September 2012 at 9:38 am

      And this corrupt hypocritical, sycophantic clown has been awarded these honours:

      http://www.act.org.nz/john-banks

      John was awarded the Companion of the Queen’s Service Order (QSO) for public service in the Year 2000 New Year’s Honours. In the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2011 he was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for service to local government.

      Makes a mockery of the honours system….. or maybe not? Maybe just shows what a farce the whole system is.

      • xtasy 6.1.1
        13 September 2012 at 9:54 am

        Remember the days of the Cold War, those that have been around those times. In many “western” countries, including NZ, the mickey was taken out of the awards of the types of “hero of labour”, “hero of diligent work” or other achievements in some communist countries then.

        You are right, one should take the mickey out of the Queen’s Honour system and what else there may be around. Abolish this whole crap, as too often the “dignitaries” and “long serving” bureaucrats, politicians and business “heros” tend to get awarded, same as mercenary soldiers fighting wars somewhere in faraway places no-one here has any direct connections with.

      • Dr Terry 6.1.2
        13 September 2012 at 11:41 am

        Carol, the entire honours system is a mockery of human kind.

      • starlight 6.1.3
        13 September 2012 at 11:50 am

        Yes and how is the speaker of the house going to call banks ‘honourable’
        it makes a mockery of that as well.

    • mike 6.2
      13 September 2012 at 11:05 am

      He is the Tony Blair of NZ politics. Brazenly standing up to self-righteously rail against the short comings of others, even as a mountain of evidence that he is a lying sack of dung rains down on him. He will only shout louder that he is the victim and it’s all so unfair, thus looking more and more like the nasty, ugly man that he is. You reap what you sow.

      John Key where’s your ‘higher ethical standards’ now?

      “Er well, of course I place the utmost importance on ethical standards. But akshully, the reality is, at the end of the day, the truth is, the important thing is what’s best for NZ. I need John Banks to push through the asset sales which NZ doesn’t want, so I have to put my master plan, I mean the interests of NZ, above ethics. I mean ethics are a nice idea, but often they just aren’t practical. They aren’t even real anyway. Ackshully he hasn’t been charged so that’s good enough for me. I have very high ethical standards.”

      • Dr Terry 6.2.1
        13 September 2012 at 11:43 am

        mike, ideally a bad person would reap what he sows. This entire Government deserves that, but unfortunately it never seems to happen, whatever it sows!

  7. Ed 7
    13 September 2012 at 9:27 am

    The rot started from the second in charge, Bill English and has permeated this Govt since.

    This Govt makes Robert Mugabe look good.

  8. xtasy 8
    13 September 2012 at 9:45 am

    The report again reveals, which had been mentioned in the media before, that the case could basically not be pursued by the police, due to provisions of section 14 of the Summary Proceedings Act 1957, which requires that information must be laid within 6 months for summary offences.

    Evidence would due to that mere reason have been “inadmissible”.

    Following from that the information provided to back up the allegations agains Banks did not meet the threshold required by section 134 (1) of the Local Electoral Act 2001.

    That is all that “let Banks off the hook” so to say.

    But the law is being used not only in such cases, to “defend” illegal actions by some.

    Why do we not hear any follow up reporting and public discussion about a revealing story on ’60 minutes’ on TV3 on 09 Sept. 2012, which revealed what ACC and their various assessors have been up to? I hear little or nothing, even the politicians are very quiet on this.

    Well, one can have expected that certain top lawyers would have been engaged right away, to send off letters to TV3 and other media companies and institutions, probably “warning” them NOT to make “false”, “slanderous” allegations or accusations.

    NZ is officially a democracy, but looking at the greater picture, it becomes very, very clear:

    Those that have the INCOME and connections, to get the best lawyers in the country, they get away with breaking statutory, common and other law, with ignoring natural justice and even committing criminal offences in some cases, because they can “afford” to “access justice”, while the right to that under the NZ Bill of Rights Act has been hollowed out even further by recent restrictions to legal aid.

    The top guys get off before the courts in too many cases, while the youth in South Auckland get pulled before the courts and convicted en masse for “disorderly behaviour” or whatever.

    Who rules and runs this country, any more questions?

  9. Carol 9
    13 September 2012 at 10:03 am

    xtasy @9.45am
    There have been press releases and questions asked in parliament on the ACC assessors, following that 60 minutes doco. But the media haven’t made that much of it:

    Green Party press release:
    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1209/S00112/independent-medical-assessments-must-be-a-top-priority.htm

    But it did get some media coverage:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7637014/ACC-pays-millions-to-send-its-hatchets

    But I guess opposition parties have been more focused on poverty and especially child poverty. But I can see why this might be.

    • xtasy 9.1
      13 September 2012 at 10:28 pm

      Carol – I got all that, sadly this site went down while I tried to post a response..

      Yes, I watched question time and Kevin Hague put the questions to poodle like Collins, she only dared to argue a couple of questions, trying to justify the high spending on assessors, by trying to say, they are elite staff, deserve this kind of pay and are hard to get.

      Distraction, bull shit and more is my answer. They are ripping off the system society an d tax payer, knowing full well they get away with it.

      Fuck outsourcing I’d say.
      Re Banks read Dotcom’s comment s in the report, I am sure you did not ask, but that other post must be clear.

      Lies, lies, deception and crap is sadly the media story here, but some new story may hit the weekend. I am working on it overtime!

  10. tsmithfield 10
    13 September 2012 at 10:16 am

    Bank’s biggest problem is his efforts to explain the situation after the event.

    He could have easily come out and said that he had solicited donations from the likes of Dotcom, knew the donations were being made, but that he had signed off the return within the rules. This is precisely what the police have found, and the reason he is not being charged.

    • SpaceMonkey 10.1
      13 September 2012 at 10:21 am

      Bank’s biggest problem is his efforts to explain the situation after the event.

      Because he knew what he did was wrong.

    • framu 10.2
      13 September 2012 at 11:49 am

      “but that he had signed off the return within the rules”

      – err… i thought they said they didnt have enough evidence to be sure of proving it.

      IE: proving what banks knew or not (in regards to him signing off on the forms) in court was going to be difficult without a smoking gun

      thats nowhere near “within the rules”

      Banks biggest problem is that he knowingly and cynically broke the rules, then made up a big bunch of BS in an effort to get out of being snapped for it

    • Draco T Bastard 10.3
      13 September 2012 at 1:43 pm

      Bank’s biggest problem, and it seems one that’s endemic to the political right and you’re excusing him is further proof of it, is that he’s corrupt.

    • mike e 10.4
      13 September 2012 at 5:11 pm

      The Silly Monetarist the police don’t want to get involved in politics these are the people that pay them.
      We need an independent commissioner ie the ombudsmen to clarify and prosecute corruption and illegal lobbying.

    • felix 10.5
      13 September 2012 at 8:32 pm

      “This is precisely what the police have found, and the reason he is not being charged.”

      Lies from tsmith. The police said the reason he’s not being charged is because the time frame within which charges for those particular offenses could be laid had expired by the time the police investigated them.

  11. alex 11
    13 September 2012 at 10:49 am

    Don’t gloat about who tripped him up, just focus on what he actually did.

  12. captain hook 12
    13 September 2012 at 11:13 am

    banks looks like he’s almost senile now anyway.

  13. starlight 13
    13 September 2012 at 11:38 am

    NZ’ers knew all along that he was ‘fudging’ the truth,playing an actors game of ‘loosing
    his memory’ this only goes to show how the man operates.
    In parliament it is hypocritical of him to fire arrows at anyone because there is
    dozens comming back at him.
    Shall we see him front up in parliament today?
    He may have to answer a ‘question’ or two,or three,or four and so on.
    He should resign,he should have already resigned,but the tax payers will
    pay him,no problems.

  14. Carol 14
    13 September 2012 at 11:39 am

    And will Labour be able to really nail the questions in Question time today?

    http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Business/QOA/2/f/3/00HOH_OralQuestions-List-of-questions-for-oral-answer.htm

    3. GRANT ROBERTSON to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his reported statement of 1 May 2012 that if Hon John Banks had lied over a donation from Kim Dotcom then he would be sacked from Cabinet?

    Of course, being a Thursday, it won’t be Key answering in person.
    And for xtasy above, from the Greens:

    4. KEVIN HAGUE to the Minister for ACC: Does she agree with Peter Trapski’s recommendation in his 1994 Report of that “the Corporation must ensure that the opinions it obtains from medical practitioners are independent, not only of the claimant, but also of the Corporation, and that they are seen to be so”?

    • gobsmacked 14.1
      13 September 2012 at 2:47 pm

      Robertson’s questions were too long-winded. Mallard’s were better.

      Joyce just stonewalled, but Labour still see this as an Insider’s Game. (A point of order from Robertson about irrelevance was itself irrelevant – focus, focus, focus … if it’s not reaching outside the chamber, it doesn’t matter. Will they ever get that?).

      It’s more difficult when somebody else is answering on behalf of the PM (it gives the Minister an out, and Joyce took it), but still, it’s their job to learn how to do that effectively.

      1. “Has the PM read the file?” (no more extra bits, just short and sharp)
      2. “Will the PM read the file?”
      3. “Why won’t the PM read the file?”

      etc

      That gets on the TV/radio news. Rambling multi-clause questions don’t.

      Now we have to wait until Tuesday at the earliest.

    • Glg 14.2
      14 September 2012 at 6:49 am

      So why does Key never show on Thursdays? Is it his golf day with crony capitalists?

  15. CnrJoe 15
    13 September 2012 at 12:13 pm

    anonymous donators unite!

  16. Steve Wrathall 16
    13 September 2012 at 12:29 pm

    Of course, what Banksie should have done is just steal public money to pay for his campaign, and then retrospectively change the law, like Helen Clark did.

    • framu 16.1
      13 September 2012 at 12:33 pm

      can i get a “retrospective!”

      shit mate – even burts stopped going on about that one

      you missed out other key words though “dyk0cracy” “Liarb0re” “paintergate” – c’mon i know you want to say them – out with it

    • Te Reo Putake 16.2
      13 September 2012 at 12:37 pm

      Can someone find a hanky for Steve? His tears are dripping all over his taxpayer purchased keyboard.

    • mike 16.3
      13 September 2012 at 1:32 pm

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem

      “An ad hominem (Latin for “to the man”), short for argumentum ad hominem, is an attempt to negate the truth of a claim by pointing out a negative characteristic or unrelated belief of the person supporting it.[1] Ad hominem reasoning is normally described as a logical fallacy,[2][3][4] more precisely an informal fallacy and an irrelevance.”

    • tc 16.4
      13 September 2012 at 1:33 pm

      How’s life under the bridge Steve ?

    • mike 16.5
      13 September 2012 at 1:37 pm

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_(Internet)

      “In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory,[3] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as a forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers into an emotional response[4] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.”

    • HalfCrown Millionare 16.6
      13 September 2012 at 7:21 pm

      change the law, like Helen Clark did.

      And how was that then sunshine, When did Clark change the law to cover a criminal offence?

    • North 16.7
      13 September 2012 at 8:11 pm

      Sick, sick, sick apologist Wrathall. What planet are you on mate ?

    • mike e 16.8
      13 September 2012 at 10:57 pm

      They paid the whole amount back Steve Rat will out of their MP’s salaries.
      Just look at all the National Troughers and hacks on the govts teat receiving ridiculous sums for f all work it makes labours indiscretions look paltry.

  17. McButturt 17
    13 September 2012 at 1:39 pm

    I wonder what the obedient votes of Epsom make of all this? Are they disappointed their Prime Minister instructed them to vote for this charlatan? Are they ashamed? Do they feel used? Are they walking funny and feel the need to take a long hot shower?

  18. Fortran 18
    13 September 2012 at 1:51 pm

    Banks is a fool – he should have channelled any funds through a Trust Fund like Len Brown
    then there can be no questions to answer.
    Thought he had more brains but no.

  19. gobsmacked 19
    13 September 2012 at 1:52 pm

    Banks must stay! Banks must stay!

    He’s a permanent reminder of John Key’s promise to “look a Minister in the eye”, his empty promises in opposition

    He brings out the imbeciles like Steve W who try and defend the indefensible

    He kills charter schools stone-dead (Banks is the salesman, and nobody smart is buying)

    He is inextricably linked to Kim Dotcom, who is never out of the media – the public see Kim, they think “Banks”, and then they see Banks and Key together

    He is Epsom and ACT and the cup of tea and the attack on the media and everything that went wrong for National in the last election campaign

    Banks is Santa!

    • tc 19.1
      13 September 2012 at 5:22 pm

      +1 keeping him around is an albatross that will continue to decay and stench.

      Then there’s banks own ability to sail foot into mouth.

  20. Dv 20
    13 September 2012 at 2:10 pm

    http://norightturn.blogspot.co.nz/

    Noright turn has an interesting comment

    “it looks like Banks explicitly linked donations to influence:

    Mr Banks asked mutli-millionaire Kim Dotcom for two payments of that exact amount so that he would not have to declare where they came from, the internet tycoon told police.
    Dotcom said Mr Banks told him: “I want to help you, Kim, and I can help you more effectively if no one knows about this donation.”

    This isn’t just evidence that Banks solicited the donations – it is evidence of corrupt intent. “Cash for favours” has no place in our political system, and any politician who promises it must be driven out. Banks should be sacked from Cabinet and disowned by the ACT Party. If either refuses to do so, then it should be taken as support for this sort of corruption.

  21. Treetop 21
    13 September 2012 at 4:01 pm

    The only person who cannot see being caught having their fingers in the cookie jar is Banks.

  22. ianmac 22
    13 September 2012 at 4:02 pm

    The Herald: 3:45pm By David Fisher and Andrew Koubaridis

    Today Mr Key said: “Nothing has changed when it comes to (our earlier) position. I haven’t read the full (police) report, I’ve seen what’s in the media … Look, this is a politically motivated attack from Labour and really where they should have put their political energy is changing the law. It is very, very broad, unworkable law and that’s why the Government is changing it now.”

    Asked if he still had confidence in Mr Banks, he said: “Yes absolutely.”

    The Prime Minister said Mr Banks hadn’t broken the law and his position on the matter hadn’t changed……..
    ….He said he did not plan to read the police file and it was a matter for Mr Banks whether he released a statement made to police.

    Now that must be great Prime Ministerial stuff. He is blind and cannot hear.

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10833792

    • mike 22.1
      13 September 2012 at 4:28 pm

      Big surprise.

      • McFlock 22.1.1
        13 September 2012 at 5:12 pm

        Learned a great lesson from Yoda Banks, has he. Read not, there is no culpability, hmm? But read the memo, and to face great peril you will. A true Jedi signs all documents while blindfolded, guided by the Force he is.
                

  23. the pink postman 23
    13 September 2012 at 4:08 pm

    What I would like to know is what has “honest John” done to upset Dot.Com. ?

  24. Jackal 24
    13 September 2012 at 4:10 pm

    John Banks guilty as sin

    If John Key fails to act, the “higher ethical standards” he talked about effectively mean nothing…

    • tc 24.1
      13 September 2012 at 5:26 pm

      They’ve meant nothing since half way through the first term, Wong, Worth, Heatley, Double Dipton, Basher leaking and anyway he meant higher ethical standards as far as a money trader is concerned.

      So about the level of a robbers dog.

    • Draco T Bastard 24.2
      13 September 2012 at 6:20 pm

      They always meant nothing.

    • North 24.3
      13 September 2012 at 9:02 pm

      The weak faced bastard will keep on doing it because presently he can get away with it. Thank you MSM (for which acronym I read Mealy-Mouthed-Suck-Up-Merchants).

      And please, let no one of the Left go tut tut tutting that he’s the PM and deserves respect.

      He deserves contempt. Contempt matching the contempt in which he holds this nation and its people.

      And near equally his mindless, hate-mongering lap-girl Benefit and the insufferably vacuous potato Hek Yeah. Their only mitigation is that being thick they know not what they do.

      Principle, honour, mana – all matter nothing. Just spend the peoples’ money mouthing off with whatever some anonymous, overpriced consultant says will work.

      My God how we need the Harawiras and the Campbells and a handful of sturdy others.

  25. infused 25
    13 September 2012 at 4:45 pm

    That’s the best photoshop I’ve seen in awhile.

  26. Southern Limits 26
    13 September 2012 at 4:54 pm

    Here we are:

    PM refuses to sack John Banks

    “Prime minister John Key has refused to sack minister John Banks over fresh revelations about his campaign donations.”

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/7671693/PM-refuses-to-sack-John-Banks

    • mike e 26.1
      13 September 2012 at 5:15 pm

      The smile and wave doesn’t live up to the higher standards he promised his govt was going to enforce!
      just another broken promise how many is that now I’ve lost count!

    • framu 26.2
      13 September 2012 at 5:18 pm

      which is probably the best result as it keeps the issue alive and further shifts the public’s impression of both banks and key further to the negative side for a longer sustained period.

      If key had sacked him yeah he would be a vote down – but would probably get a bounce in the polls and lots of nice “ooh hes so decisive” media coverage

      all we need now is a site where you can fill out a ‘cash for favours” request that gets sent to banks and key 🙂

      • ianmac 26.2.1
        13 September 2012 at 5:24 pm

        He might not be a vote down as Key cannot dismiss an elected MP, but he could fire him from his cabinet. But the strange Mr Banks might go wild (er) and not follow instructions. Actually it might cause a by-election should Banks get the pip and resign. What a come-down from the heights that would be.

  27. Dv 27
    13 September 2012 at 5:46 pm

    In fact if Banks did resign, the nact could probably get a nat for epsom before the mighty river float.

  28. Toosense 28
    13 September 2012 at 9:14 pm

    When the hell is someone from the Opposition going to stand up and say enough!
    When the hell are New Zealanders going to take to the streets and start demanding some transparency and honesty from these despicable politicians?

  29. irascible 29
    14 September 2012 at 7:51 am

    Money traders, like KeY, are not noted for higher ethical principles other than manipulating others for their own benefit.Demanding high standards from people like KeY & Banks is asking for the impossible as their careers have been built on having none.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • 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
    2 hours 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
    3 hours 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
    7 hours 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
    19 hours 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
    23 hours 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
    24 hours 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 day 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 day 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days 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
    2 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
    Hundreds of people in little over a week have turned out in Northland to hear Regional Development Minister Shane Jones speak about plans for boosting the regional economy through infrastructure. About 200 people from the infrastructure and associated sectors attended an event headlined by Mr Jones in Whangarei today. Last ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Health Minister thanks outgoing Health New Zealand Chair
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti has today thanked outgoing Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora Chair Dame Karen Poutasi for her service on the Board.   “Dame Karen tendered her resignation as Chair and as a member of the Board today,” says Dr Reti.  “I have asked her to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Roads of National Significance planning underway
    The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has signalled their proposed delivery approach for the Government’s 15 Roads of National Significance (RoNS), with the release of the State Highway Investment Proposal (SHIP) today, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.  “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Navigating an unstable global environment
    New Zealand is renewing its connections with a world facing urgent challenges by pursuing an active, energetic foreign policy, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.   “Our country faces the most unstable global environment in decades,” Mr Peters says at the conclusion of two weeks of engagements in Egypt, Europe and the United States.    “We cannot afford to sit back in splendid ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • NZ welcomes Australian Governor-General
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced the Australian Governor-General, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley and his wife Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, will make a State visit to New Zealand from Tuesday 16 April to Thursday 18 April. The visit reciprocates the State visit of former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Pseudoephedrine back on shelves for Winter
    Associate Health Minister David Seymour has announced that Medsafe has approved 11 cold and flu medicines containing pseudoephedrine. Pharmaceutical suppliers have indicated they may be able to supply the first products in June. “This is much earlier than the original expectation of medicines being available by 2025. The Government recognised ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • NZ and the US: an ever closer partnership
    New Zealand and the United States have recommitted to their strategic partnership in Washington DC today, pledging to work ever more closely together in support of shared values and interests, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.    “The strategic environment that New Zealand and the United States face is considerably more ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Joint US and NZ declaration
    April 11, 2024 Joint Declaration by United States Secretary of State the Honorable Antony J. Blinken and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs the Right Honourable Winston Peters We met today in Washington, D.C. to recommit to the historic partnership between our two countries and the principles that underpin it—rule ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • NZ and US to undertake further practical Pacific cooperation
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has announced further New Zealand cooperation with the United States in the Pacific Islands region through $16.4 million in funding for initiatives in digital connectivity and oceans and fisheries research.   “New Zealand can achieve more in the Pacific if we work together more urgently and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago

  • Government redress for Te Korowai o Wainuiārua
    The Government is continuing the bipartisan effort to restore its relationship with iwi as the Te Korowai o Wainuiārua Claims Settlement Bill passed its first reading in Parliament today, says Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith. “Historical grievances of Te Korowai o Wainuiārua relate to 19th century warfare, land purchased or taken ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Focus on outstanding minerals permit applications
    New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals is working to resolve almost 150 outstanding minerals permit applications by the end of the financial year, enabling valuable mining activity and signalling to the sector that New Zealand is open for business, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.  “While there are no set timeframes for ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 days ago

  • Applications open for NZ-Ireland Research Call
    The New Zealand and Irish governments have today announced that applications for the 2024 New Zealand-Ireland Joint Research Call on Agriculture and Climate Change are now open. This is the third research call in the three-year Joint Research Initiative pilot launched in 2022 by the Ministry for Primary Industries and Ireland’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Tenancy rules changes to improve rental market
    The coalition Government has today announced changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to encourage landlords back to the rental property market, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “The previous Government waged a war on landlords. Many landlords told us this caused them to exit the rental market altogether. It caused worse ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Boosting NZ’s trade and agricultural relationship with China
    Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay will visit China next week, to strengthen relationships, support Kiwi exporters and promote New Zealand businesses on the world stage. “China is one of New Zealand’s most significant trade and economic relationships and remains an important destination for New Zealand’s products, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of our good and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Freshwater farm plan systems to be improved
    The coalition Government intends to improve freshwater farm plans so that they are more cost-effective and practical for farmers, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay have announced. “A fit-for-purpose freshwater farm plan system will enable farmers and growers to find the right solutions for their farm ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New Fast Track Projects advisory group named
    The coalition Government has today announced the expert advisory group who will provide independent recommendations to Ministers on projects to be included in the Fast Track Approvals Bill, say RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones. “Our Fast Track Approval process will make it easier and ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Pacific and Gaza focus of UN talks
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters says his official talks with the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York today focused on a shared commitment to partnering with the Pacific Islands region and a common concern about the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.    “Small states in the Pacific rely on collective ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Government honours Taranaki Maunga deal
    The Government is honouring commitments made to Taranaki iwi with the Te Pire Whakatupua mō Te Kāhui Tupua/Taranaki Maunga Collective Redress Bill passing its first reading Parliament today, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith says. “This Bill addresses the commitment the Crown made to the eight iwi of Taranaki to negotiate ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • Enhanced partnership to reduce agricultural emissions
    The Government and four further companies are together committing an additional $18 million towards AgriZeroNZ to boost New Zealand’s efforts to reduce agricultural emissions. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says the strength of the New Zealand economy relies on us getting effective and affordable emission reduction solutions for New Zealand. “The ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • 110km/h limit proposed for Kāpiti Expressway
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) will begin consultation this month on raising speed limits for the Kāpiti Expressway to 110km/h. “Boosting economic growth and productivity is a key part of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and this proposal supports that outcome ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

  • New Zealand Biosecurity Awards – Winners announced
    Two New Zealanders who’ve used their unique skills to help fight the exotic caulerpa seaweed are this year’s Biosecurity Awards Supreme Winners, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard. “Strong biosecurity is vital and underpins the whole New Zealand economy and our native flora and fauna. These awards celebrate all those in ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-18T00:09:02+00:00