Teapot fiasco becomes an international embarrassment

Written By: - Date published: 7:48 am, November 18th, 2011 - 58 comments
Categories: International, Media - Tags: ,

I got an email from a mate in the UK this morning asking what the hell is going on over here. He’d just got into work and was being asked by his British workmates why the police were searching media outlets in the middle of an election campaign.

That’s not surprising, a quick scan of the UK media turns up stories about this fiasco in the Guardian and the BBC.

By upping the ante Key has turned this into an international embarrassment for New Zealand.

In fact “embarrassment” is too gentle a word. Having the cops serving warrants on political journalists less than two weeks out from an election because the Prime Minister doesn’t want people to find out what he said is bloody shameful – Key has made us look like a banana republic in the eyes of the world.

It’s not just brand Key that’s getting hammered here. It’s New Zealand’s reputation as a progressive and enlightened international citizen. What a mess.

58 comments on “Teapot fiasco becomes an international embarrassment ”

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  1. vto 1
    18 November 2011 at 8:08 am

    It’s like one of them willy willys that spring out of nowhere in the desert sometimes. Usually they spring up and die away pretty quickly, but sometimes they grow and grow and turn into whilrwinds and tornadoes over which not a single person has control. They go all over the whole place shredding everything in sight and leaving a total mess and new order.

    Fingers crossed that new order is beneficial to NZ

  2. Uturn 2
    18 November 2011 at 8:17 am

    As above, I think what we’re seeing is the birth of a new kind of politics, conceived by people who don’t give a damn about anyone or thing but themselves and their goals. There is no tradition, consensus, gradual evolution or deferal to “how things are done” in Team Key’s behaviour. These are the attitudes of not just born to rule, but meglomania.

  3. Fred 3
    18 November 2011 at 8:18 am

    “It’s not just brand Key that’s getting hammered here. It’s New Zealand’s reputation as a progressive and enlightened international citizen.”

    You said it, Irish !

    About bloody time ..

  4. Afewknowthetruth 4
    18 November 2011 at 8:32 am

    I think most people overseas have a lot more to worry about than the rantings of a pair of circus clowns in NZ.

    ‘World markets turmoil intensifies

    The turmoil in world markets intensified today as fears the eurozone will collapse were fuelled by a rise in borrowing costs for some of its biggest members.’

    http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/world-markets-turmoil-intensifies-6263548.html

    The pity is, the international debt crisis will not reach full intensity until after the NZ election, so the idiotic NZers who think National is doing a good job of managing the economy remain utterly deluded when it matters.

  5. TightyRighty 5
    18 November 2011 at 8:53 am

    [deleted]

    [lprent: bans mean you don’t write comments. All future comments will now go to spam. ]

    • freedom 5.1
      18 November 2011 at 9:28 am

      So a ‘secret Nat activist’ is going to the High Court to seek a judgement before deciding on going forward with a defamation case. Potential charges against your Leader is hardly a competent strategy.

      then again if they handle their campaign as they handled the economy . . . competence is a phantasm

      P.S. Tighty, care to offer any defense for why National refused to answer Policy questions for RNZ?

    • Jackal 5.2
      18 November 2011 at 10:04 am

      Vindication that John Key is a liar meme? Good god man where have you been the last three years? Keys cup runneth over with examples of lying… he is a con man through and through.

    • Draco T Bastard 5.3
      18 November 2011 at 1:59 pm

      The only ones who care are those who have been looking for vindication on their john key is fucking liar meme.

      Key has been proven as a liar since before the election.

      • TightyRighty 5.3.1
        18 November 2011 at 3:28 pm

        [deleted]

        [lprent: doubling the ban to eight weeks for wasting my time. Adding to auto spam so it doesn’t go into auto moderation again. ]

        • muzza 5.3.1.1
          18 November 2011 at 5:32 pm

          So you’re comfortable voting for your Tory hero’s, even after admitting that they are in fact liers, just like the other party morons….Brilliant

          Please move to another country, you are an embarrassment to ours!

          Note – I do not buy into party politics, it is for the easily lead!

        • Draco T Bastard 5.3.1.2
          18 November 2011 at 6:24 pm

          Got proof of these lies you accuse Labour and the Greens of?

  6. Jim Nald 6
    18 November 2011 at 8:57 am

    Joyce joins in and exhibits his well honed skill at belittling others … this time, the Fourth Estate is the most fortunate target:

    “I think there are one or two people in the media who need to do a little bit of self-assessment over this weekend.”

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5991288/Keys-handling-of-teapot-tape-defended

  7. In Vino Veritas 7
    18 November 2011 at 9:18 am

    Irish, to say that “Key has made us look like a banana republic in the eyes of the world” is a bit rich, given that for the 9 years between 1999 and 2008, we WERE a banana republic according to my mates in the UK and US. With for eg: a corrupt government that missappropriated $800,000 illegally in 05, then legislated to prevent a court case, bribed certain classes of voters (remember interest free student loans that are now costing hundreds of millions and the profligate, unsustainable spending in the public sector that we are paying for today.

    • The Voice of Reason 7.1
      18 November 2011 at 9:24 am

      Wow, I guess you’re saying that Labour’s failing was only going for $800k and sucking up to students when Key has shown us how it’s really done by stealing nearly $80 million to bribe Warners and Mediaworks and changing the law under urgency to allow the con to happen. Yep, when it comes to corruption, Labour are amateurs and National are the hardened pros.

      • kriswgtn 7.1.1
        18 November 2011 at 11:34 am

        oh and dont forget the billion or so he gave to his mates and himself in the form of tax cuts

        Bit rich draggin up the $800k when
        a billion is more u dumb cockfuk

        • In Vino Veritas 7.1.1.1
          18 November 2011 at 2:00 pm

          Poor old kris from the socialist nirvana of Wellington. If someone steals something from you, and you get it back, you’d be happy wouldnt you? Let me see. Labour increased tax rates on people who earned over $70k or so, and now its given back. Theft on one hand, returned on the other. (I would point out that if they were still in power, $70K would still be the threshold, not the $150K they are spouting now).

          Labour illegally misappropriated from taxpayer funds.Then legislated to protect themselves. And hypocritically, many on this site are bleating about a secret recording and the police investigation into it.

          Kris, socialism is an unsustainable system that lowers the standard of living of the population living under it. Aspire to something, make a better life for yourself and your family, don’t expect others to do it for you via subsidies.

    • Afewknowthetruth 7.2
      18 November 2011 at 9:42 am

      IVV.

      ROTFLMHO. Your comment really is too amusing!

      ‘according to my mates in the UK and US. With for eg: a corrupt government that missappropriated $800,000 illegally’

      In the US about $2 billion a day goes missing, unaccounted for in military spending and kickbacks. Meanwhile the corrupt Wall St banksters have seen to it that a couple of trillion dollars of taxpayer money slipped out of the system and into their accounts via the corrupt, ‘war-is-peace’ Dubya and O’Bomber administrations.

      And I see the corrupt UK government of Macaroon is about to do a dirty deal to sell Northern Rock to Branson at well below valuation, having poured goodness knows how many hundreds of millions of public money into it. So nothing has changed in Britian, following the reigns of Tony B Liar and the Clown (who sold Britain’s gold at the lowest possible price to his money-lender mates).

      Keep posting. With the NZ economy slowly imploding we need plenty of laughs.

    • freedom 7.3
      18 November 2011 at 9:45 am

      let me translate for IVV

      WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH !!! Stop picking on my Pin Up Boy
      I like it when NZ is teetering on Bankruptcy after only one term. Give us another term so we can really drive the prospecting stake into the heart of New Zealand
      ==============================
      back in reality
      It is 2011 IVV, 2011. Give up the Labour did bad stuff too meme and get with the reality of today. National have ‘borrowed’ 40 Billion Dollars off our children’s future.

      They have lined up sales of Assets and Agriculture that will only come to light once the first few ‘Mum & Dad’ events run their course. The Chinese Construction Bank through the efforts of Jenny Shipley and other long time conspirators have finished their Magic Farmland Investment Tours of 2010 and are poised to invest Billions of Dollars into the export futures of NZ Industry, which will co-incidentally destroy much of what is left of our Land and Waterways. Billions of dollars to develop vast Dairy Farms and Processing Factories completely owned and operated by overseas interests. Then there are the mineral resources, Hooboy are there mineral resources. But i am confident such a well-informed commentator like yourself would already understand that. So guess what, those Billions of dollars are not going into our pockets. It will be going off shore. You remember off-shore? The place where our 40 Billion dollar debt must be paid to. That place where John Key lives? Where he said he is going if he does not win again! so i repeat . WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH

      The next child you see, look closely,
      they are the people you are meant to be protecting, not selling off.

  8. Gosman 8
    18 November 2011 at 9:41 am

    This reminds me of the apparently huge media interest, (well according to some left wing types), when the PM supposedly gave his support to Mubarek in Egypt. That’s not to say this thing hasn’t been badly handled just that, at this point in time, for many it is a non-issue. If the next round of polls show a collapse in support for National then this will matter.

    • Afewknowthetruth 8.1
      18 November 2011 at 9:50 am

      Gosman.

      We are unlikely to witness a collapse in support for National because a large sector of the populace is suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. Having fallen in love with their abuser, they are likely to run to his defence.

      It’s much the same with Winnie: the last time he got anywhere near the seat of power he made such a mess of it he was asked to leave.

      Of course people have incredibly short memories and fall for any old nonsense as long as it’s said with a rosy smile.

      All deceivers know that.

      • Gosman 8.1.1
        18 November 2011 at 10:11 am

        Then the members of the left of the politicl spectrum have failed miserably in doing their job of articulating an attractive alternative to the voting public.

        I’d agree with you on one point though. Most people in NZ tend to give Governments at least two terms so long as they haven’t majorly stuffed things up. I know people on the left think that the Key led Government has done so but currently it doesn’t look like the voters agree.

        Of course this could change in the last week but evidence to date suggests the last week leads to a solidifying in support for parties rather than any major collapse. There are of course exceptions to this.

        • bbfloyd 8.1.1.1
          18 November 2011 at 1:06 pm

          wiffle waffle wiffle…. that’s about the sum of your contribution gossamer boy….. you obviously havn’t the attention span to actually read labour’s policy statement in their entirety without frequent rest stops…….otherwise you wouldn’t be displaying your ignorance so obviously…..

          i’ll make it easier for you… john(pink eyes) key is a sociopathic liar who hasn’t a shred of humanity in actuality…. his “folksy” patter is an act.. pure and simple…. one he perfected working to undermine sovereign countries economies for the benefit of the same banks that created the global economic meltdown as well as for personal profit….

          not a shred of decency to be found in that one i can assure you…..

          to defend and support that rubbish playacting as a leader of a society makes the supporters as disloyal and disconnected with humanity as he is…..

  9. Colonial Viper 9
    18 November 2011 at 9:58 am

    What does Key care about NZ’s international reputation? He already has his potrait with Obama. Case closed.

    • Draco T Bastard 9.1
      18 November 2011 at 2:10 pm

      +1

      Key doesn’t give a shit about NZ. He’s just concerned with making himself and his rich (foreign) mates richer at our expense.

  10. tsmithfield 10
    18 November 2011 at 10:04 am

    Just shows how precious and infantile media around the world are generally.

    Firstly they want to focus on the most menial, trite rubbish when there are much more important things out there to focus on.

    Secondly, how dare anyone subject them to the same standards that ordinary folk are? They are obviously above the rule of law and should never be questioned. Let me say it again. There have been no search warrants. Police are only investigating whether or not charges should be laid. This isn’t persecution of the media by any stretch.

  11. tsmithfield 11
    18 November 2011 at 10:17 am

    Here is what Greg Conner had to say about the investigation.

    I realise this particular thread is about international media response. But there seems to be two conflicting memes going on this site at the moment:

    1. The police are in Keys pocket and are doing his bidding.
    2. The police action is terrible for National.

    Care to resolve the conflict?

    • locus 11.1
      18 November 2011 at 10:30 am

      @TS It’s incredibly embarrassing to have a goon for a prime minister. For the pm of a country to undermine the respect we all have for the police by dragging them into his own stupid little political mistake is inexcusable.

    • The Voice of Reason 11.2
      18 November 2011 at 10:32 am

      There isn’t a conflict between those positions, ts. There aren’t mutually exclusive and indeed seem complimentary. eg. The cops are in Key’s pocket and they way they are being used like mafia enforcers is embarrassing for National. And, given O’connor’s squirming, embarrassing for PC plod, too.

    • Jackal 11.3
      18 November 2011 at 10:42 am

      There is no clear lawful case for the tape to be suppressed and this shows that Key has overstepped the mark by getting the Police involved to raid media organisations. Perhaps Key thinks that National is polling so high he can do whatever he likes and it wont hurt National… but what is apparent is that Key is an idiot and did not think of the national consequences or the international ramifications.

      The problem for National is that the polls have given Key a false sense of security. The media backlash means that they will hopefully no longer give National a hospital pass and this will influence the sleepy hobbits who rely entirely upon the MSM. There are many undecided voters who will make a decision from the information they have leading up to an election. Most of which is not looking good.

      New Zealand has many ties with other countries with over a million Kiwi’s living abroad. This fiasco might be just the right impetus they need to vote… historically these people favour the left and therefore Keys miscalculation about the reaction to his fascism could be highly detrimental for National. Game on.

    • Colonial Viper 11.4
      18 November 2011 at 11:15 am

      Care to resolve the conflict?

      Yeah, Key and his handlers fucked up by panic escalating this issue.

  12. Penny Bright 12
    18 November 2011 at 10:19 am

    The international political embarrassment will continue, as NZ’s ‘perceived’ status as ‘the least corrupt country in the world’ comes under scrutiny………….

    FYI

    http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/decisive-enforcement-clear-guidance-wanted-fma-ne-104521#comment-233761

    How about the FMA simply applying ‘ONE LAW FOR ALL’ equally to Don Brash and John Banks, fellow former Directors of Huljich Wealth Management (NZ) Ltd?

    How come only Peter Huljich was charged?

    All three Directors equally signed a Registered Prospectus which contained untrue statements.

    And Brash and Banks effectively asked investors to trust them – they had commercial expertise and knew what they were doing.

    They didn’t.

    And Brash and Banks want to help run NZ – when they couldn’t competently or with ‘due diligence’ properly run a Huljich Kiwisaver scheme?

    Did Brash and Banks receive political protection at the highest levels given that Brash was the former Leader of the National Party (now ACT Party) and Banks was the former National Minister of POLICE and Local Government?

    Because that’s how I for one ‘perceive’ it.

    Why is John Key having a ‘cup of tea’ with someone who is, in my opinion, a yet to be charged or convicted ‘white collar’ criminal – John Banks?

    FMA CEO’s stated reasons below for why Banks and Brash didn’t have the ‘ONE LAW FOR ALL’ that they espouse for others – equally applied to themselves….
    __________________________________________________________________________

    ” 13 November 2011

    Dear Ms Bright

    Thank you for your letter, which was handed in to my Auckland office on 8 November 2011.

    I have reviewed your latest correspondence carefully, noting that it does not raise any new or significantly different issues to those raised by you on 27 September 2011.

    FMA’s position is unchanged from that expressed in my email to you on 28 September 2011.

    I am satisfied that the position of both Mr Banks and Dr Brash was carefully considered by the Securities Commission and that competent advice was received in relation to the entities or persons against whom charges ought to be brought.

    Unless you have new information or evidence to bring to light which was not previously considered by the Securities Commission, FMA does not consider you have any basis on which to suggest it should bring proceedings against either Mr Banks or Dr Brash in relation to Huljich Wealth Management.

    Yours faithfully

    Sean Hughes

    –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
    Sean Hughes | Chief Executive | Financial Markets Authority
    T: + 64 4 472 9830 | E: sean.hughes@fma.govt.nz
    Level 8, Unisys House, 56 The Terrace, Wellington, New Zealand

    Level 5, Ernst & Young Building, 52-70 Galway Street, Britomart, Auckland, New Zealand

    PO Box 1179, Wellington 6140, New Zealand

    http://www.fma.govt.nz ”
    ________________________________________________________________________

    I’m waiting to hear back today from the SFO – if they are going to pick up the ball that the CEO of the FMA, Sean Hughes, has effectively run away from, (in my considered opinion).

    Penny Bright
    Independent Candidate for Epsom
    Campaigning against ;white collar’ CRIME, CORRUPTION (and its root cause – PRIVATISATION) and ‘CORPORATE WELFARE.

    [email deleted]

    • KerryC 12.1
      18 November 2011 at 11:01 am

      Penny if the Securities Commission and FMA are Govt Organisations, is an OIA request for trascript of the papers – findings & decision for this possible?
      Might be able to put pressure on the decision makers if the thr process is flawed.(You’ve probably already been through this)

  13. Ste3e 13
    18 November 2011 at 10:19 am

    Do we remember the last election and the little boy John Key running off to his meeting offshore to show the world how it was done. Do we remember him enlightening the world as to Al Qaeda’s involvement in the Norwegian massacre as Obama looked on. The guy is a legend in his own country and a joke everywhere else.

  14. O2B 14
    18 November 2011 at 10:52 am

    @Afewknowthetruth

    Exactly right about Stockholm Syndrome. For some reason these people think that Key will make millionaires out of all of them. But I do feel the tide turning. I was chatting to few small business owners and they have stated that they will not be voting NAct.

    By the way, why do many people in this country think that having more money equates you being a better person? After earthquakes, shipping disasters and mine tragedies, does money REALLY matter.

  15. Pete George 15
    18 November 2011 at 11:13 am

    [you’re not allowed to post your party’s press releases here as comments. Eddie]

    [lprent: And I really have to write something to limits Penny’s ability to do it as well in all blitheness. She is the worst offender. I need a flag that limits selected people to 140 chars or so… ]

    • Penny Bright 15.1
      18 November 2011 at 2:38 pm

      Gee lprent – silly me.

      Here I was thinking that in this current sea of mainsteam media BLACKOUT in my fight to help expose ‘white collar crime, corruption and ‘corporate welfare’ that ‘The Standard’ was a beacon of light?

      Apologise is all I can do.

      PS: I don’t actually expect to become the next MP for Epsom.
      As I have done in the last three election campaigns in which I have stood as a candidate – I have used the electoral process in order to help focus public attention on issues no one else is consistently or persistently raising.

      Penny Bright
      Independent Candidate for Epsom
      Campaigning against ;white collar’ CRIME, CORRUPTION (and its root cause – PRIVATISATION) and ‘CORPORATE WELFARE.

      [email deleted]

      [lprent: summaries with links are best because they don’t take up so much real estate to scroll through. The idea is to induce people to want to read what you have said and to go to your site to find more rather than having them cursing as they scroll down the page. Have a look at our front page. There are a lot imaginative excerpts there drawing people intoe posts. Jackal, Mickey and usually PG usually restrain themselves to relevant links in posts, or OpenMike for stuff that we haven’ written about. So do many of the people here. The nets are about linking rather than plastering. ].

  16. Brett Dale 16
    18 November 2011 at 11:17 am

    TEAPOT TEAPOT TEAPOT TEAPOT TEAPOT TEAPOT TEAPOT TEAPOT

    lets swing some mud and some of it will stick. Labour is playing into National’s hand, this is hook line and sinker.

    The only person who should be worried is [defamatory. do it again and you’re banned. Eddie] and the media who is using him.

    • insider 16.1
      18 November 2011 at 12:09 pm

      “I’m a teapot. I’m a teapot” is what Tim Brooke-Taylor on the Goodies used to shout when under pressure. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STgPZvR36zo

    • framu 16.2
      18 November 2011 at 12:25 pm

      “Labour is playing into National’s hand, this is hook line and sinker.”

      what are you on about brett?

      • Brett Dale 16.2.1
        18 November 2011 at 12:38 pm

        Framu:

        The tape will be released and the public will think. “thats it????”

        There will be a backlase against the media and Labour.

        • hawk 16.2.1.1
          18 November 2011 at 12:46 pm

          In addition to that what has the media been covering over the election in the last week- A perhaps illegal tape recording.

          How does that help Labour or other gain to much traction on policies etc, as it is all about policies and not personality. The polls have been interesting with the smaller parties being the only ones gaining support.

          Peters is very interesting, is he lying or have people further broken the law by leaking info ?? (Not totally sure but woud info of the tape being released equal breaking the law ?)

        • framu 16.2.1.2
          18 November 2011 at 12:54 pm

          so what exactly have labour got to do with that?

          all theyve said is (paraphrasing)

          privacy should be respected
          it was a media event so the convo wasnt that private
          and that key should man up and release the tape so everyone can get on with things.

          I fail to see how labour are playing into nationals hands when the players here are national, act and the media.

          apart from those couple of comments from labour they’ve hardly gotten a mention in the press

        • kriswgtn 16.2.1.3
          18 November 2011 at 12:54 pm

          wtf has Labour got to do with this ya dick???

          Fuk even senile Brash has admitted the tape should be released

          Keystone and his cops ARE BULLIES simple as that

          why the fuk the msm like Espiner and co are still up his ass is beyond me

          Theyll be next………………

    • Brett Dale 16.3
      18 November 2011 at 12:40 pm

      Eddie:

      Bradly Ambrose use to be called Bradley White, that is true isnt it?

  17. framu 17
    18 November 2011 at 12:26 pm

    does anyone else get a weird bug where after commenting you can click the browsers back button multiple times and it just loops back and forth instead of going back sequentially?

    using win XP and chrome

  18. Draco T Bastard 18
    18 November 2011 at 1:56 pm

    Key has made us look like a banana republic in the eyes of the world.

    That’s because, under this government, we are a Banana Republic.

  19. Brett Dale 19
    18 November 2011 at 2:37 pm

    Draco?

    In the eyes of the world we wool like a banana republic??

    Do you really think the world gives a fuck about what is happening in a tiny south Pacific Island at the bottom of the world???, heck that statement is worse than OUR sports media thinking the world is shooting their load over the all blacks winning the world cup and not knowing that its the most insignificant team sport on earth (well apart from netball).

    • Draco T Bastard 19.1
      18 November 2011 at 6:28 pm

      Well, considering that their media have picked up on it, yes, I suspect they do give some consideration to it.

      I also noted that you didn’t address my concern that we are a banana republic.

  20. newsense 20
    18 November 2011 at 6:23 pm

    Alamein Kopu, I can hear you, slopping in your slippers down to Shipley’s door…

    remember Lange doing an absolute Lange on the 6pm news with Campbell …banana republic was mentioned and Campbell was just sitting there his jaw dropping to the floor not quite able to believe what he was hearing…

    Look who’s back Banana republic Men!