Key and McClay sorting out their lines

Written By: - Date published: 9:12 am, May 4th, 2016 - 16 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, corruption, john key - Tags: , , , , ,

The wheels of coverup spin right out in the open these days.

Yesterday Key had to feed McClay his lines – Tracy Watkins: Brain fade embarrassment averted

When McClay was door-stopped on Tuesday over whether he knew Whitney worked for Key at the time the lawyer contacted him about a review of New Zealand’s trust laws, the minister was difficult to pin down.

After a circuitous route around the question of whether McClay did or didn’t know Whitney was Key’s lawyer, the minister eventually offered up that he probably didn’t know but couldn’t remember for sure. For more than 16 minutes McClay veered between being almost certain he didn’t know to being somewhat unsure because it was a long time ago.

Not having had his instructions on what to say, McClay was trying to say nothing. The concept of just telling the truth probably never occured to him. He must have been relieved when he got his lines soon after –

It was only half an hour later that Key fronted up to media and categorically and unequivocally confirmed that he was quite explicit in his conversation with McClay that Whitney was his lawyer.

Pretty good memory for Key, who usually can’t recall what he said 5 minutes ago. He must know that evidence exists, and could come out. But you can still see McClay’s evasions in other coverage yesterday. Compare the now deleted Minister didn’t know who PM’s lawyer was and the revised I told McClay about lawyer, says Key.

Key has changed his own tune too. When this story broke he said he just referred Whitney to McClay

There’s nothing unusual about it. People ask me about particular issues. I don’t live in a vacuum. I do what is absolutely the correct thing to do, which is send them off to the minister. There’s nothing I wouldn’t have done on a million of other occasions which was to direct them to the minister and let the ministers get on to do their work.

I said to go and see the minister. After that I never had any involvement.

But now it turns that he did have further involvement, he told McClay that his lawyer would be in touch. Does he set up those connections for his “million” other casual conversations too? Of course he doesn’t.

16 comments on “Key and McClay sorting out their lines ”

  1. Kevin 1

    Once again, Key’s first instinct is ALWAYS to lie.

    He can’t help himself. Lying to him is like breathing to the rest of us.

    • mary_a 1.1

      @ Kevin (1) … yep, FJK in typical dodgy mode. If you are caught out, first lie, lie again and then lie some more. He can’t help himself! Truth doesn’t exist in FJK’s slippery, murky world. His lies will bury him.

      Karma is on its way!

  2. Mosa 2

    As usual its all Labours fault eh!
    Its as ridiculous as his claim that he plays it straight..

  3. North 3

    A very unimpressive man and certainly committed to forces beyond NZ’s shores. Just underlines that he’s always been the beneficiary of the MSM’s self-interested, advised, pulling of punches. The gloss painted on the turd is wearing thin.

  4. Lanthanide 4

    No one in the media has yet to ask if it’s normal procedure for a minister to make a visit to the office of the contact.

    I would have thought it would be more normal for the contact to visit the minister’s office? Guess it depends in they’re both in Wellington or not.

    • ianmac 4.1

      I think that they could answer that with “We are very accessible and meet constituents every where.” Probably not so for formal meetings but deniable.

    • Nick Morris 5.1

      And why shouldn’t that Trust-enabling-former- lawyer drop Key’s name, why shouldn’t Key give a heads up to his newly-appointed junior minister and why shouldn’t Todd McLay change his position on trusts, and why shouldn’t New Zealand be turned into the Jersey – or Bermuda – of the South and why shouldn’t they all be allowed to keep the whole thing secret?

      Nothing to see here….did I mention paintergate recently (that’s forgery!) and pledgecardgate (corruption!)

      Ah yes I remember it well….

  5. amirite 6

    Oh! The shit just keeps popping up to the surface…

    ‘John Key’s lawyer Ken Whitney was criticised by the High Court after creating a sham trust for a bankrupt property developer then failing to disclose it to authorities probing his client’s insolvency.’ – http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11633406

  6. Frank Stark 7

    NZ Herald’s Matt Nippett reveals John Key’s “lawyer” Ken Whitney was criticised by a High Court judge for setting up a sham trust for a bankrupt property developer, then failing to disclose it to authorities probing his client’s insolvency.
    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11633406
    Among the gems in the case revealed by Nippett, Whitney was asked under cross-examination if he had concerns around setting up structures to allow a bankrupt to continue in business. “No, not particularly,” said Whitney. “It’s a common thing for people to do. It may not be morally as white as it could be but it’s normal practice.”

    This seems in stark contrast to Key’s comments that the conduct of his lawyer, who actually isn’t a lawyer, is “highly ethical”.

    In the August 2014 ruling, High Court Justice Ed Wylie noted Whitney repeatedly failed to disclose the sham trust nor did he volunteer that Las Vegas-based bankrupt Rod Neilsen and his wife had been appointed discretionary beneficiaries of that trust.

    Justice Wylie recorded some oddities around the signature. “Whitney purported to witness Nielsen’s signature. Whitney acknowledged in cross-examination that he was not present when Nielsen signed the document. Neilsen signed it in Las Vegas, and Whitney witnessed Nielsen’s signature when the document was later returned to New Zealand.
    The ruling records Mr Whitney, responding to what “in the presence of” meant in terms of witnessing signatures, saying he had “taken it to mean also if you know the person’s signature and you’ve discussed it with them and they acknowledge it then that’s fine”.
    Justice Wylie said of this explanation and behavior: “Again, this is far from satisfactory.”

    I wonder how long it is before Key decides his long time friend and “lawyer” is a liability?

  7. greywarshark 8

    The puppet in the image reminds me of an old kids tv program about a toy called Lamb Chop.
    Here is one where Lamb Chop and friends find a wallet. I wonder if this would be suitable viewing for politicians. I haven’t found out yet whether good Lamb Chop follows the rule and returns the wallet to its owner, or whether the naughty friends win the day.
    Tata I am just going to watch the story. Do you guess what the outcome is? Let’s watch together!
    (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QY8qeWdn6QU

    • Henry Filth 8.1

      If politicians are involved, then d’you think it might be a foregone conclusion?

    • greywarshark 8.2

      I was just thinking that this video Lamb Chop and the wallet should go on a list of values training videos for rich kids.

      They are the ones that are growing up to be criminals in the major areas of finance that lead to our economy living on borrowed money and borrowed time. But soon it will end = they will have purloined all our resources, and then they can drive their enslavement legislation even tighter.

      We will end up like the Yorkshireman determined to have the worst sob story about childhood – ‘We used to work 25 hours a day and when we got home our dad would murder us and dance on our graves singing hallelujah. Yes, tell that to the young people today and they’ll never believe you.”

      But something very like that has happened in the western world in WW2. So could do again, you’d better believe it.

  8. Anno1701 9

    “According to Justice Wylie: “Indeed, Whitney accepted in cross-examination that this was done to maintain secrecy as against all parties, including the Official Assignee.””

    doesn’t that make him an Accessory before the fact & practically an accomplice ?

  9. Neil 10

    When Whitney rung Key,
    Key would’ve known who he was speaking to straight away, Given that Whitney has been Key’s personal lawyer for 20 years(Oh that’s right Whitney is not a lawyer) & told Whitney exactly what it said in the email to McClay, that Whitney had contacted Key & Key had given Whitney the assurance that they had no plans of tightening up on the foreign trust laws & wanted a meeting.
    Then McClay would’ve freaked out being a noobee & shut down any IRD investigation into it to appease his master.
    It sticks out like a pimple on a 16 year old school boy on heat, that all this is rather plain to see, why do people prefer to keep their heads in the sand & ignore it?.
    Not only is Key up to less than desirable practices MSM are no where to be seen asking the hard questions until they get an answer.
    I tell you what if Labour were in charge of this, they would get crucified for it, not that they aren’t now for anything they say.

Recent Comments

Recent Posts

  • Anzac Commemorative Address – NZ National Service, Chunuk Bair
    Distinguished guests -   It is an honour to return once again to this site which, as the resting place for so many of our war-dead, has become a sacred place for generations of New Zealanders.   Our presence here and at the other special spaces of Gallipoli is made ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Anzac Commemorative Address – Dawn Service, Gallipoli, TĂźrkiye
    Mai ia tawhiti pamamao, te moana nui a Kiwa, kua tae whakaiti mai matou, ki to koutou papa whenua. No koutou te tapuwae, no matou te tapuwae, kua honoa pumautia.   Ko nga toa kua hinga nei, o te Waipounamu, o te Ika a Maui, he okioki tahi me o ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • 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
    1 day 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
    2 days 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
    3 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
    3 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
    3 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
    5 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
    5 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
    6 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, TĂźrkiye 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
    7 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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
    1 week 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

Page generated in The Standard by Wordpress at 2024-04-25T12:02:11+00:00