The Credibility Stakes: John Key vs Nicky Hager

Written By: - Date published: 2:12 pm, August 15th, 2014 - 58 comments
Categories: john key - Tags: , , ,

What a surprisingly even-handed opinion piece from the New Zealand Fox News Herald political commentator John Armstrong about the coming consequences of Nicky Hager’s “Dirty Politics”. In part, Armstrong writes . . .

. . . If John Key wishes to avoid being labelled the Richard Nixon of New Zealand politics, he is going to have to do more than deny knowledge of what was going on in a neighbouring office. The same applies to any attempt to denigrate Hager – as Key did on Tuesday – by describing him as a “screaming left-wing conspiracy theorist”. The left-wing bit is correct. But no one has ever produced the evidence to question the veracity of the content of Hager’s books.

In short, Hager is credible. It is thus Key’s credibility against Hager’s . . .

So, lets take a closer look at that Hager vs Key credibility match up with a review of past performances and current form.

Documented Lies Told By author and investigative journalist Nicky Hager

Zero, zip, nada . . . not one.

Documented Lies Told By the Prime Minister of New Zealand John Key

  1. I promise to always be honest
  2. we are not going to sack public servants, the attrition rate will reduce costs
  3. there’s no way one in five New Zealanders will lose their jobs
  4. we are not going to cut working for families
  5. I firmly believe in climate change and always have
  6. We seek a 50% reduction in New Zealand’s carbon-equivalent net emissions, as compared to 1990 levels, by 2050. 50 by 50. We will write the target into law.
  7. National Ltd™ will provide a consistent incentive for both biofuel and biodiesel by exempting them from excise tax or road user charges
  8. there is no truth in Nicky Hager’s book “The Hollowmen”
  9. I didn’t know about The Bretheren election tactics
  10. If they came to us now with that proposal [re trans-Tasman Therapeutic Goods regime], we will sign it
  11. I can’t remember my position on the 1981 Springbok Tour
  12. Tranzrail shares
  13. I did not mislead the House (1)
  14. Lord Ashcroft
  15. National Ltd™ would not have sent troops into Iraq
  16. Standard & Poors credit downgrade
  17. the double-down grade doesn’t really matter and its only about private sector debt
  18. I did not mislead the House (2)
  19. I didn’t say I want wages to drop
  20. I can’t remember why I voted against increasing the minimum wage
  21. lifting the minimum wage to $15 an hour will increase unemployment
  22. the real rate of inflation is 3.3 percent.
  23. the tourism sector has not lost 7,000 jobs
  24. no I have never heard of Whitechapel
  25. I won’t raise GST
  26. people who are on the average wage and have a child are $48 a week better off after the rise in GST
  27. the purchase of farmland, by overseas buyers will be limited to ten farms per purchase
  28. the Pike River Mine was consented to under a Labour Government
  29. no promises were made to get the remains of the miners out of the Pike River mine
  30. I did not provide a view on the safety of the Pike River coalmine
  31. I did not mislead the House (3)
  32. capping, not cutting the public service
  33. raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour will cost 6000 jobs
  34. north of $50 a week
  35. privatisation won’t significantly help the economy
  36. wave goodbye to higher taxes, not your loved ones
  37. I never offered Brash a diplomatic job in London
  38. Tariana Turia is “totally fine” with the Tuhoe Treaty Claim deal
  39. Kiwisaver
  40. National Ltd™ is not going to radically reorganise the structure of the public sector
  41. tax cuts won’t require additional borrowing
  42. New Zealand does not have a debt problem
  43. New Zealand troops in Afghanistan will only be involved in training, not fighting
  44. the wage gap between New Zealand and Australia has closed under my National Ltd™ government
  45. It took 9 years for Labour to make a complete and utter mess of the economy
  46. National Ltd™ has changed the Overseas Investment Act to include 19 different criteria
  47. the price of goods and services has risen by 6 percent since the last election, while the after-tax average wage has actually gone up by 16 percent
  48. no, although its a week ago and here I am being interviewed on television about them, I havn’t seen Gerry Brownlee’s comments regarding demolitions in Christchurch and which caused such outrage, but I can talk all about them
  49. our SAS soldiers were not involved in the Kabul Hotel gunfight
  50. the use of the Vela brother’s helicopter was required so I could attend meetings relating to national/international security concerns
  51. the DPS makes the decision about accompanying the Prime Minister or not, I had no choice but to take them on holiday to Hawaii
  52. I did not mislead the House (4)
  53. oh, maybe our SAS soldiers were in the Kabul hotel gun fight but they weren’t wounded by friendly fire
  54. New Zealand has lost $12 billion from GDP due to the Christchurch earthquake . . . oh, it might actually be around $15 billion from GDP due to the Christchurch earthquake . . . Blinglish said what?
  55. 10,000 houses will have to be demolished in Christchurch due to the earthquake
  56. 14,000 new apprentices will start training over the next five years, over and above the number previously forecast
  57. our amendments to the ETS ensure we will continue to do our fair share internationally
  58. we are committed to honouring our Kyoto Protocol obligations
  59. any changes to the ETS will be fiscally neutral
  60. New Zealand has grown for eight of the last nine quarters”
  61. National Ltd™ will tender out the government banking contract
  62. we will be back in surplus by 2014-15
  63. Nicky Hager’s book “Other People’s Wars” is a work of fiction
  64. unemployment is starting to fall
  65. we have created 60,000 jobs
  66. we have created 45,000 jobs
  67. the 2011 Budget will create in the order of 170,000 jobs
  68. I don’t know if I own a vineyard
  69. no, I did not mislead the House (5)
  70. the Isreali spy killed in the Christchurch quake had “only one” passport
  71. the Police will not need to make savings by losing jobs
  72. I voted to keep the drinking age at 20
  73. New Zealand is 100% Pure
  74. I’ve been prime minister for four years, and it’s really 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year
  75. baseball in New Zealand is attracting more government support
  76. the decision to buy brand new BMWs was made by the Department of Internal Affairs without reference either to their minister or to me
  77. I didn’t have a clue that Ministerial Services, which I am in charge of, was going to buy brand new BMWs
  78. even though four of my ministers knew all about it, I didn’t have a clue that brand new BMWs were being bought.
  79. even though my Chief of Staff met with officials to discuss purchase of the the brand new BMWs, I didn’t have a clue
  80. even though I personally signed papers discussing the matter, I still didn’t have a clue
  81. Labour forced us into buying the brand new BMWs, its their fault
  82. ummm, look, sorry about that BMW thing , it was because I was so upset
  83. I did not describe David Beckam as thick as batshit
  84. I did not mislead the House (6)
  85. the public demanded that we change the labour laws for The Hobbit
  86. “The Hobbit” created 3000 new jobs
  87. we have delivered 800 extra doctors in the public service
  88. I did not mislead the House (7)
  89. I wasn’t working at Elders when the sham foreign exchange deals took place
  90. I was starting School Certificate exams in 1978
  91. I don’t know who arrived on the CIA jet to visit the spies I am responsible for
  92. reducing barriers to property developers will increase the availability of affordable housing
  93. Labour left the economy in poor shape
  94. forecasts show unemployment will fall
  95. we have closed the wage gap with Australia by $27
  96. Ngati Porou and Whanau Apanui are not opposed to mining
  97. I have not had any meetings with Media Works
  98. our [NZ’s] terms of trade remain high
  99. the TPPA is an example of democracy
  100. the TPPA will still have to be ratified by Parliament
  101. National Ltd™ will use the proceeds of state asset sales to invest in other public assets, like schools and hospitals
  102. New Zealand troops will be out of Afghanistan by April 2013
  103. overseas investment in New Zealand adds to what New Zealanders can invest on their own
  104. overseas investment in New Zealand creates jobs, boosts incomes, and helps the economy grow
  105. National Ltd™ will build 2000 houses over the next two years
  106. there are only 4 New Zealand SAS soldiers in Bamiyan and all working in the area of logistics and planning only
  107. selling state assets will give cash equity to those companies
  108. the Sky City deal will provide 1000 construction jobs and 800 casino jobs
  109. all five bidders for the convention centre were treated equally
  110. my office has had no correspondence, no discussions, no involvement with the Sky City deal
  111. I did not mislead the House (8)
  112. I can’t remember what was discussed at my meeting with the SkyCity Chief Executive on 14 May 2009
  113. I have no record of the 12 November 2009 email from Treasury advising that the SkyCity deal was dodgy and needed to be referred to the Auditor General
  114. there was nothing improper about the Sky City deal
  115. SkyCity will only get “a few more” pokie machines at the margins
  116. any changes to gambling regulations will be subject to a full public submission process
  117. Sky City has approached TVNZ about the purchase/use of government-owned land
  118. I did not mislead the House (9)
  119. this government has been very transparent about all its dealings with SkyCity
  120. I did not mislead the House (10)
  121. the Auditor General has fully vindicated National over the Sky City deal
  122. I did not mislead the House (11)
  123. the Deputy Auditor General supports the view that there was nothing inappropriate about the Sky City deal
  124. I did not mislead the House (12)
  125. I did not breach the confidentiality of the Auditor General’s Report into the Sky City deal
  126. the Labour Government did exactly the same sort of deal back in 2001
  127. Labour has promised to not revoke the Sky City legislation
  128. there’s a 50/50 chance the Hobbit is going off shore unless we do something
  129. David Shearer has signed up for the purchase of shares in Mighty River
  130. Solid Energy asked the government for a $1 billion capital investment
  131. fracking has been going safely on in Taranaki for the past 30 years without any issues
  132. no frontline positions will be lost at DOC
  133. Iain Rennie came to me and recommended Fletcher for the GCSB job
  134. I told Cabinet that I knew Ian Fletcher
  135. I forgot that after I scrapped the shortlist for GCSB job I phoned a life-long friend to tell him to apply for the position
  136. I told Iain Rennie I would contact Fletcher
  137. I haven’t seen Ian Fletcher in a long time.
  138. I did not mislead the House (13)
  139. I have no reason to doubt at this stage that Peter Dunne did not leak the GCSB report
  140. I called directory service to get Ian Fletcher’s number
  141. the new legislation narrows the scope of the GCSB
  142. the GCSB has been prevented from carrying out its functions because of the law governing its functions
  143. because the opposition is opposed the GCSB law ammendments, parliamentary urgency is required
  144. the increasing number of cyber intrusions which I can’t detail or discuss prove that the GCSB laws need to be extended to protect prive enterprise
  145. it was always the intent of the GCSB Act to be able to spy on New Zealanders on behalf of the SIS and police
  146. National Ltd™ is not explanding the activities of the GCSB with this new law
  147. cyber terrorists have attempted to gain access to information about weapons of mass destruction held on New Zealand computers
  148. the law which says the GCSB cannot spy on New Zealanders is not clear
  149. it totally incorrect that the Government effectively through GCSB will be able to wholesale spy on New Zealanders
  150. we self identified that there was a problem with the GCSB spying on Kim Dotcom
  151. the illegal spying on Kim Dotcom was an isolated incident
  152. The advice I have had in 4 years as a Minister is that in no way ever has there been an indication of unlawful spying
  153. the Ministerial Warrant signed by Bill English did not cover anything up
  154. I wasn’t briefed about the raid on Kim Dotcom’s home.
  155. first I heard I heard about Kim Dotcom was on 19 January 2012
  156. first I heard about the illegal spying on Kim Dotcom was in 17 September
  157. I did not mislead the House (14)
  158. I won’t be discussing Kim Dotcom during my Hollywood visit.
  159. The Human Rights Commission couldn’t get its submission on the GCSB legislation in on time.
  160. it would cost too much to for the police and SIS to carry out the spying on New Zealanders that this new legislation will permit
  161. critics of the GCSB legislation, including the Law Society, the Human Rights Commission, and the Privacy Commission, are all uninformed
  162. no, I did not mislead the House (15)
  163. I do not know how Mr Henry is conducting the Enquiry
  164. no, I did not mislead the House (16)
  165. the Henry Enquiry had permission to view Ministers’ emails
  166. no, I did not mislead the House (??)
  167. we do not spy on journalists
  168. the passing of phone records to the Henry Enquiry was an error on the part of a contractor
  169. I wasn’t aware that my own Chief of Staff was instructing Parliamentary Services to hand over information concerning journalist Andrea Vance
  170. National Ltd™ has never tried to impinge on the role of the media
  171. I had nothing to do with information on a journalist being handed over to the inquiry into the leaking of the GCSB report
  172. the terms of the enquiry made it clear to everyone that it was only the phone records of parliamentary staff and ministers that were to be provided
  173. I have the utmost respect for the media and the role it plays in New Zealand’s democracy
  174. the Henry Enquiry did not access a journalist’s building-access records
  175. the Henry Enquiry did not ask for phone and email records
  176. no, I did not mislead the House (17)
  177. the Greens are opposed to the GCSB and the SIS even existing
  178. the GCSB needs to spy on New Zealanders because there are al-Qaeda terrorists in New Zealand
  179. John Minto is in the Green Party
  180. the GCSB needs to spy on New Zealanders because of the terrorist threat, even though official reports released over my signature say there is no risk and the SIS has the matter in hand
  181. the GCSB Bill does not give the GCSB the power to look at the content of communications as part of its cyber-security functions
  182. no, I did not mislead the House (18)
  183. there will be no mining on Conservation land in the Corromendel
  184. no, I did not say we would follow the US and Australia into a war against North Korea
  185. New Zealand has an arrangement to have asylum seekers processed in Australian detention camps
  186. I did not mislead the house (19)
  187. I paid for that lunch and I’ve got the credit card bill to prove it
  188. I am honest and upfront
  189. the only way net new jobs can be created is by private investors putting their money into businesses in New Zealand
  190. you can’t hide if yuu’re Prime Minister
  191. an increase in the number of people looking for work indicates that confidence is returning to the economy
  192. the 10 percent of taxpayers in New Zealand who are the top earners pay 76 percent of all net personal tax.
  193. I did not mislead the House (20)
  194. Aaron Gilmour was >a href= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHlarcvmR7U&feature=youtu.be> one of a number of people in a group who were badly behaved
  195. the substantial wage growth under Labour was eroded by inflation
  196. National Ltd™’s 2010 tax changes were fiscally neutral
  197. I did not mislead the House (21)
  198. the bulk of New Zealanders earn between $45,000 and $75,000 a year
  199. Pike River Coal did not put profits and its production ahead of the safety and lives of those 29 workers.
  200. Radio Live had sought advice from the Electoral Commission about my show just before the election
  201. it is because of National Ltd™’s policies that the price of fresh fruit and vegetables has dropped.
  202. the length-of-the-country cycleway will create 4000 jobs.
  203. police training for next year has not been cancelled
  204. National Ltd™ has only cut back-office jobs in the health service
  205. The Crown’s dividend stream from the Meridians, the Mighty Rivers of the world is large and there is no motivation to sell assets; actually we’re about creating assets not selling assets.”
  206. National believes employment law should treat all parties fairly. It should . . . Protect employees and employers.
  207. I am not trying to tackle such issues in a “fearful” way ahead of the next election
  208. Wellington City is dying.
  209. National Ltd™ has been working on a number of things with New Zealand First on a number of things one of which has a financial component but I can’t talk about it
  210. the best way to get growth in the economy is to reduce public debt
  211. New Zealand mum and dad investors will be our number one priority in the allocation of Mighty River shares
  212. we won’t let “cowboy” oil exploration companies operate here in New Zealand
  213. the Green Party is racist by not allowing Chinese residents in New Zealand to buy a house
  214. the Labour Party is promising a four-bedroom house in Auckland for $300,000
  215. the food in schools programme is in the 2013 budget
  216. the meat exports are being held up in China because of issues in relation to the Chinese looking to trace counterfeit meat
  217. its notoriously difficult to win three elections in a row
  218. I am deeply concerned about every child in New Zealand who is in poverty
  219. there is no manufacturing crisis in New Zealand
  220. the government’s exposure to MediaWorks’ going into receivership is reasonably limited
  221. the money from the sale of state assets will not be used to prop up Solid Energy
  222. I don’t see a place for a Winston Peters-led New Zealand First in a government that I lead. It’s not a matter of political convenience, it’s a matter of political principle.
  223. The vast majority of the buildings in Christchurch came through the earthquakes in good shape
  224. the commemoration of New Zealand’s involvement in the Korean War will not be used to bolster trade talks
  225. third generation Chinese New Zealanders will be required to present their passport before buying a house under the Labour government
  226. the Labour housing policy is an attempt by David Shearer to save his leadership
  227. the Labour housing policy is in breach of free trade agreements
  228. only 2% of the proceeds of the sale of Mighty River will be spent on the sales process
  229. David Cunliffe is lying to you
  230. Labour wants to nationalise the super market industry
  231. The government will engage in no further negotiations with Rio Tinto
  232. Without a government subsidy of hundreds of millions of dollars Chorus will go broke
  233. No, I did not mislead the House (??)
  234. the justice system is already adequate for handling situations involving new evidence
  235. my Minister Nick Smith was not aware of the content of the leaked draft submission on the Ruataniwha situation until 17 September
  236. New Zealand First will nationalise a host of industries and businesses
  237. I have no responsibility for the statements I make
  238. Mark Mitchell was just gossiping at a cocktail party when he tipped Webster off about Len Brown’s affair
  239. it was a lack of external analysis and accountability which put Solid Energy into its debt crisis
  240. the Commerce Commission misinterpreted the law when deciding the price for access to the Chorus copper infrastructure
  241. no analyist predicted that the cost of access to the copper infrastructure would go down
  242. there has been only one problem with oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico
  243. If it was my vote, it would be no pay increases for Mps
  244. Greenpeace are just scare mongering about any oil leaks off the New Zealand coast
  245. For every election for the last five elections , we have had royal visitors to New Zealand.
  246. No decision has been made on the timing of the sale of Air New Zealand shares
  247. its not true that in New Zealand the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer
  248. This summer is the most active season ever for oil and gas exploration, with the industry spending up to $750 million. At the same time, the Government is strengthening the regulations that govern drilling, particularly in deep water.
  249. Labour is trying to mislead people about eligibility for Best Start because they don’t get the payment while they also get paid parental leave.
  250. A mountain of evidence shows that the quality of teaching – inside the classroom – is the biggest influence on kids’ achievement
  251. Governor General Jerry Mateparae has been jostled while walking onto Te Tii Marae at Waitangi .
  252. Cameron Slater, who I speak to regularly and who told me about Winston meeting Kim Dot Com, has got absolutely nothing to do with the National Party.
  253. Cameron Slater rang me
  254. What I do know is that when this Government came in, there were predictions that unemployment would rise to over 10 percent.
  255. The Cabinet Office had cleared Judith Collins of a conflict of interest
  256. The golf tournament in which I played the chairman of Oravida was for charity.
  257. The Cabinet Office has cleared Collins of a conflict of interest after it translated comments on Oravida’s website which stated that she had praised its products
  258. My Justice Minister, Judith Collins, didn’t lie to Parliament, she just didn’t understand the question.
  259. The [MFAT] paperwork shows right through this that not only did the Minister have a very busy programme, all on judicial and justice issues, but, secondly, all the way through it talks about a private dinner.
  260. No, I did not mislead parliament. (??)
  261. No, I did not mislead the House(??)
  262. The Unions decide the leadership of the Labour Party and picked David Cunliffe
  263. Unions give the Labour Party millions of dollars a year
  264. The economic mess inherited by the Abbott government in Australia can be likened to the economic mess inherited by National Ltd™ when it came into office in 2008.
  265. National Ltd™ inherited an economic mess from Labour
  266. National Ltd™ inherited an economic mess from Labour in 2008
  267. No, I did not mislead the House(??)
  268. Twelve percent of New Zealand households pay 76 percent of all net tax in New Zealand
  269. Natinal Ltd™ ignored the plight of babies living in the poorest famililies because there is other assistance available
  270. the Malaysian government declined to waive diplomatic immunity for the man charged with burglary and attempted rape
  271. the UN officials visiting down south are focussing on sustainable agriculture
  272. I would apologise to the woman if I knew who she was
  273. My government has led the charge on the transperancy of MPs’ spending
  274. Only 1 percent of New Zealand farm land is in foreign ownership
  275. Internet Mana put together the video depicting a burning effigy of me.
  276. Under National Ltd™ the prison population has gone down.
  277. National Ltd™ has been nowwhere near the Labour party computer system
  278. The OIA request to the SIS about Phil Goff’s briefing on the Isreali spies had nothing to do with my office.
  279. National Ltd™ talks to the MSM exactly the same way we talk to the MSM
  280. The allegations in Nicky Hager’s book are all wrong.
  281. Nicky Hager has got nothing to prove any of the allegations.
  282. All this stuff in “Dirty Politics” is coming from the left.
  283. National Ltd™ is not using blogs as attack sites any more than anyone would do
  284. The release of “Dirty Politics” is part of a coordinated attack from the left because it is unable to win the discussion on the issues that matter.
  285. Very little of the book “Dirty Politics” is about me.

58 comments on “The Credibility Stakes: John Key vs Nicky Hager ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. mickysavage 1
    15 August 2014 at 2:33 pm

    Thanks BLiP. I would love to see you and others give the latest Key excuse for the book video the treatment. The video is a must see …

    http://www.3news.co.nz/Video-John-Key-talks-Nicky-Hagers-Dirty-Politics/tabid/370/articleID/356848/Default.aspx

  2. Bob 2
    15 August 2014 at 2:43 pm

    1.”I promise to always be honest” Terrible link! It cuts out what he was actually asked to promise too, then has him promising “I’ll do my best”, that’s not promising to always be honest, in fact it is almost impossible to go through life being 100% honest without living with constant black eyes from every time your wife asks if she ‘looks good in this’.

    3.”there’s no way one in five New Zealanders will lose their jobs” How is this a lie?

    4.”we are not going to cut working for families” He didn’t, all he did was make changes to the marginal tax rate and he said he was going to do that in the same article you linked to!
    “I have long held concerns, in addition, about high effective marginal tax rates acting as a disincentive to people under WFF, but we are confident that this issue will be addressed by our tax package.”

    5.”I firmly believe in climate change and always have” why is this a lie? Even in your link all he says is “and I am somewhat suspicious of it”, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t firmly believe in it. I firmly believe that Fluoride is good for your teeth, but I am somewhat suspicious of it.

    So that is 4 of the first 5 that I can put into my BLip is a liar list? I hope you didn’t spend too much time putting this list together because it certainly feels that way.

    I should add, point 2 was a lie, but this is based on the fact no-one could have predicted the depth of the GFC at the time he said this, so even though it is a lie it is a justifiable one.

    • BLiP 2.1
      15 August 2014 at 2:53 pm

      ‘

      Thanks, I’ll take out number 3 . . . keep going, you’re doing a great job.

    • Tracey 2.2
      15 August 2014 at 3:19 pm
      1. No it doesnt. Listen again

      “do you promise you’ll always be honest?”

      John key: ” yea” nods his head

      The i will do my best is NOT in answer to promising to be honest, as you state but rather is an answer to if a journalist forgets to ask a question he will answer anyway.

      Dont know if you just have bad hearing or were deliberately miarepresenting what key said to try and discredit BLiPs list.

      I do look forward to your challenge to the rest of the list.
      i believe one thing from hollow men was challenged and conceded by hager. Everything else factual.

    • Tracey 2.3
      15 August 2014 at 3:24 pm

      so the guy whose boss described him as having an uncanny ability to know wgat the currency would do before everyone ( johm key), didnt know the gfc was coming despite it beginning in December 2007? Interesting hypothesis.

    • McFlock 2.4
      15 August 2014 at 3:31 pm

      wow.
      Gotta love the way you’re reduced to a semantic argument about whether “suspicion” implies a lack of belief or not.

      synonym of suspicious:>

      doubtful, unsure, dubious, wary, chary, sceptical, distrustful, mistrustful, disbelieving, having reservations, apprehensive, cynical, jaundiced;
      informaliffy

      • Tracey 2.4.1
        15 August 2014 at 4:13 pm

        Or im firmly implies immoveable

      • Hanswurst 2.4.2
        15 August 2014 at 8:05 pm

        Yeah, especially since the example used is suspicion of fluoride as a health concern. So the analogy with suspicion of climate change would be that Key “firmly believes in climate change”, but is “somewhat suspicious” that it might wreck the environment and ruin civilisation as we know it? Somehow, I don’t think that’s what Key means by “suspicious”.

        • BLiP 2.4.2.1
          15 August 2014 at 9:14 pm

          ‘

          Your wriggling is delicious. Now that you think you have partnered John Key on the semantic shuffle through the natural meaning of “somewhat suspicious” how about taking on the next one . . .

          ” . . . “The impact of the Kyoto Protocol, even if one believes in global warming—and I am somewhat suspicious of it—is that we will see billions and billions of dollars poured into fixing something that we are not even sure is a problem. Even if it is a problem, it will be delayed for about 6 years. Then it will hit the world in 2096 instead of 2102, or something like that. It will not work,” explained the then eco-sceptical Mr Key . . .

          Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate your efforts in helping correct the list but, at this stage, it looks like the lie still stands.

          • Hanswurst 2.4.2.1.1
            15 August 2014 at 9:17 pm

            Eh? You’re misreading me. My statement was supporting you, not trying to debunk you. I was saying that Bob’s fluoride analogy doesn’t hold water, since he’s using a different meaning of “suspicious”.

  3. Dont worry. Be happy 3
    15 August 2014 at 2:56 pm

    For me one of the most serious and dubious things that Key says often is his opinion that Kim Dot Com is in politics to stop his extradition.

    This case is before the Court so no one should be voicing their opinion of what stands between KDC and freedom let alone the man currently in the highest position of power within the country.

    Surely the PM expressing this opinion is putting undue and extraordinary pressure on the justices who will decide what happens?

    Surely it is prejudicing a fair trial? Surely, it has prejudiced a fair trial already!

    And isnt it not a bit telling that he continues to claim that KDC is only in politics to prevent his own extradition…its almost as if he is accidentally telling us his own twisted and deviant version of the Truth.

    In reality, should this government get thrown out and a left wing Government be elected, KDC will still go before the Court and it is the Court which will decide his fate not whoever is in Government.

    But Key seems to be saying that if the Government changes, KDC is home free.

    Is he actually implying that if the Government doesnt change, then KDCis off to the USA?

    Because if he is implying that then he is usurping the power of the law of this land and we are further down the road towards a dictatorship than we have feared.

    I am clearly not trained in this area….but I am wondering just where are the legal profession….the judges and lawyers and faculty staff of the various law schools?

    What do they have to say? Dont they care when a Prime Minister prejudices a case?

    Or do they worry that he might have something on them in his “top drawer” passed onto him by the spy agenencies he controls?

    • BLiP 3.1
      15 August 2014 at 4:41 pm

      ‘

      Yep – John Key’s utter disdain for any form of due process which he finds inconvenient is blatant. As well as his incessant attacks on a person who’s case is currently before the courts, he recently called for the sacking of an official before an enquiry was even under way. That was after he was caught out lying about the circumstance surrounding the Malaysian diplomat accused of attempted rape who left the country.

    • Bob 3.2
      15 August 2014 at 7:02 pm

      “Is he actually implying that if the Government doesnt change, then KDCis off to the USA?”
      I doubt that this is the case, it was more a case of trying to KDC looking like he is trying to buy his way out of an extradition case by getting a voice in parliament, but at the same time you are right in saying Key shouldn’t be talking about cases in front of the court! I can’t believe he hasn’t been taken to task on this!
      Has a date been set for the trial yet?

    • Stuart Munro 3.3
      16 August 2014 at 8:34 am

      The case to extradite Dotcom could well be dismissed at a change of government -without prejudicing the court process at all. Ordinarily, civil cases like copyright cannot generate extradition. The anomaly has been the behaviour of the Gnat government, not Dotcom or the courts.

  4. disturbed 4
    15 August 2014 at 2:59 pm

    Hey BLiP

    http://www.3news.co.nz/Video-John-Key-talks-Nicky-Hagers-Dirty-Politics/tabid/370/articleID/356848/Default.aspx

    Since you sent that video link I went on to it and Key’s head filled my screen and I had a feeling of instant gut reaching nausea come over he, and had to shut the video down.

    I must be allergic to him now fortunately, and hope this sudden illness feeling is contagious unless the doctor can order a remedy.

    • BLiP 4.1
      15 August 2014 at 3:08 pm

      ‘

      Yeah, John Key has definitely got his “I’m not bovvered” face on in that video. Note also that the last nine lies on the list come directly from that performace, although I used the RNZ audio link. When John Key tells one-off lies it can sometimes be put down to “brain fades” and he’s often able to dance out of the accusation of lying using his patented “semantic shuffle”, but when he’s in real trouble, the lies come in clusters. See, for example, his lying about the BMWs cock-up, or his dodgy SkyCity deal, and, of course, the GCSB saga.

    • Tracey 4.2
      15 August 2014 at 3:12 pm

      I am up to chapter 5

      I can see supporting evidence that ede was involved in oias and other stuff but no direct evidence of the sis stuff. It must have come from somewhere and the pattern is supported by comparison with other behaviour but that is not evidence. Please correct me if i am wrong.

      I wasnt at the standard when labour was in govt. Did the standard have a history of breaking stories before the msm, so as to suggest info being fed from govt deprs or ministers?

      • Lanthanide 4.2.1
        15 August 2014 at 7:08 pm

        “Did the standard have a history of breaking stories before the msm, so as to suggest info being fed from govt deprs or ministers?”

        No. The only thing, as Lynn mentioned in his interview with Guyon, was the “h-fee scandal” which blew up in Labour’s face because they couldn’t find any evidence.

        • Tracey 4.2.1.1
          15 August 2014 at 7:30 pm

          So the comparison of slaters actions to the standard has only one factual similarity in how many years?

        • lprent 4.2.1.2
          15 August 2014 at 7:37 pm

          Yeah and I’m still pissed off that a post went up on The Standard to push it. It got canned pretty damn fast as well.

      • karol 4.2.2
        15 August 2014 at 7:38 pm

        Was the SIS incident, to do with an investigation into alleged Israeli spies in Christchurch, and Slater sent the OIA in 2011?

    • Ffloyd 4.3
      15 August 2014 at 4:10 pm

      Get a bucket and watch all of this video, it’s hilarious. Probably the saddest thing about it is that this is the person charged with the running of our country. So embarrassing. His nose isn’t going to last much longer if he keeps on with the lying. Every time he fibs he pulls it so hard it lengthens by at least three inches. You probably need to make sure your household insurance is up to date as you might get an overwhelming urge to throw something heavy at your t.v.

      • Tracey 4.3.1
        15 August 2014 at 4:19 pm

        i thought he was looking haggard with big bags under his eyes before the book came out

    • dave 4.4
      15 August 2014 at 6:04 pm

      i no the feeling iam just so angry at the moment stuff polls ,slater gate ,corruption ,these bastards are stealing our future wreaking our country every time i see John key on a hording i just want to destroy it ,labour has got some wonderful ideas to improve our lives , hagers book just proves how much the game is rigged. i want new government and new beginning not this corrupt shit we have know .

    • David H 4.5
      17 August 2014 at 8:27 am

      It’s not TricKeys face you should be watching it’s the Radio Live Journo and the Blonde Journo behind him. The look on their faces is priceless. They KNOW he’s lying, and they are obviously not allowed to call him on it. Tho’ the last question about the shine of Brand key said it all to me. Just jump to the last 90 secs of the video.

      But yes should have a take anti nausea medicine before watching, warning…

      • mickysavage 4.5.1
        17 August 2014 at 8:45 am

        I thought so to. The guy was getting really animated obviously because he could not believe what Key was saying. I bet his bosses are not too pleased …

  5. Papa Tuanuku 5
    15 August 2014 at 4:06 pm

    Listen folks as Guyon turns the mike off when he disagrees with what she says. Is this the next story – media shutting supporters of Hager up?

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/20145775

    • grumpystilskin 5.1
      15 August 2014 at 4:36 pm

      Just under 6 minutes on morning report is good.
      Don’t forget live media run to a script, everything is timed to the second. There’s no conspiracy here, just they had another story scheduled after 6 mins.

    • BLiP 5.2
      15 August 2014 at 5:36 pm

      ‘

      Oh, I dunno. To me, it didn’t seem to be anything other than an interview going over time. The worrying aspect is Espinner’s membership of the “Political Hacks Who Got Shown Up By Nicky Hager Club”. All members appear to have been briefed at whatever brothel bar they gathered at on Wednesday night and are now united in their attempt to foist a false analogy onto the public. The idea that political parties openly tipping media off to potential stories of genuine public interest is the same as the National Ltd™ inner sanctum’s subterranean attempt to destroy critics with coordinated “hits”, complete with “plausable deniability”, are the same thing is disingenuous, at best.

    • Rodel 5.3
      15 August 2014 at 9:01 pm

      Interesting in the interview how often Guyon’s voice becomes louder and Meteria’s voice becomes faint when she says things he doesn’t want to hear.
      Do they do that on radio with a a fader when the interviewer wants to voice over with his interruptions?
      If so it seems like trickery to me.

  6. disturbed 6
    15 August 2014 at 4:14 pm

    BLiP, PT Some dirt on Key already self confessed.?

    What’s this about?

    What’s good for the goose is good for the gander too?

    http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/john-key-admits-keeping-dirt-file-labour-mps-5655555

    Add the dirt file John Key said he has.

    He will write a book with those details as “facts” of fiction as according to his latest vicious attack on Hagers book as fiction so will his be also regarded by MSM as fiction. NO.
    How about sending the reporter a challenge who covered Key’s expose’.

    Someone can do some shit on this double standards here please.

  7. Mr Mediaocrity 7
    15 August 2014 at 5:21 pm

    LOL

    Community service for largest recorded snapper catch breach
    Published: 3:14PM Friday August 15, 2014 Source: ONE News

    Is this related to John Key?

    [lprent: I don’t know. You haven’t provided a link. I feel that stupidity may feature strongly in your genotype so I’d suggest you read the policy. ]

    • BLiP 7.1
      15 August 2014 at 7:22 pm

      Is this related to John Key?

      Seems unlikely . . . but I can see why you are concerned. Its certainly fishy, alright.

  8. AmaKiwi 8
    15 August 2014 at 7:01 pm

    If Hager cannot be disproven, Key will have plenty of time to write in jail.

    This is far worse than Watergate. As the threat of conviction moved higher and higher up the White House pecking order, fewer people were willing to fall on their swords to protect Nixon. The threat of prison time tends to get one’s attention.

    • David H 8.1
      17 August 2014 at 9:14 am

      If it looks that dodgy. Key will resign leave the NATS in disarray, and piss off back to Hawaii toot suite, where he can continue his attacks on NZ from the safety of the US. I hope the fall out is so bad that the Yanks extradite him, now that would be justice!

  9. Tracey 9
    15 August 2014 at 7:35 pm

    I want you all to be calm as you read what i am about to write. It will shock many. So brace yourselves

    In the electorate of epsom today, on a smal public park ALL billboards were down except two,

    Both belonged to

    ACT

    I expect the outraged right have reported it to the police and demanded an investigatin into the targetted vandalism.

    • Puddleglum 9.1
      15 August 2014 at 8:44 pm

      Isn’t that just typical of “the right”?

      They’re too scared to talk about the “issues that matter to New Zealanders” so they resort to “dirty politics”.

      John Key must feel very ashamed given he is part of “the right” 🙂

  10. Foreign waka 10
    15 August 2014 at 8:11 pm

    Talking to the average people in average places with average expectations is sobering. Firstly, most people are not interested in politics and secondly, most will vote the same party as last time. Main reason is confusion and holding on to a “secure” choice. It is sad that Nzlanders in large numbers are completely ignorant of what a civic society is, let alone what it takes to be one. Due to that lack of knowledge the outcome of the election is pretty much predictable. Niki Hagers book will not change that. I am surprised however, that there isn’t an independent review under way already. But then again, cousis will not nark on their fellow cousis.

  11. disturbed 11
    15 August 2014 at 10:28 pm

    Puuddlegum, Can we get Key to answer this way then??

    Reported last year 2013. Key admits to dirt file.

    http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/john-key-admits-keeping-dirt-file-labour-mps-5655555

    Why did the TV reporter not go and again question Key this year now this subject came up again?

    The dirt file John Key said he has in his office desk, was already there last year.

    Key was so (brash) — sorry for the pun), and here was the same man now saying national had nothing to do with it????

    Where did he get that file? Did he already have a file given him by his staffer, the file on Labour?.

    Key said he will write a book with those details as “facts” of fiction as according to his latest vicious attack on Hagers book as fiction so will his be also regarded by MSM as fiction.

    NO.

    How about sending the reporter a challenge who covered Key’s expose’. Someone can do some shit on this double standards here please.

    Hot off Prime tonight. Hager wants to release some files.

    • David H 11.1
      17 August 2014 at 9:17 am

      “How about sending the reporter a challenge who covered Key’s expose’. Someone can do some shit on this double standards here please.”

      Yeah right they are all too busy kissing TricKeys arse.

  12. Mr Mediaocrity 12
    15 August 2014 at 11:07 pm

    LOL

    Iprent, Oi, lighten up: Your comment in square brackets

    [lprent: I don’t know. You haven’t provided a link. I feel that stupidity may feature strongly in your genotype so I’d suggest you read the policy. ]

    Hell Iprent, I was making a joke John Key goes on about snapper all the time, then the book dirty politics comes out, then this

    “Community service for largest recorded snapper catch breach
    Published: 3:14PM Friday August 15, 2014 Source: ONE News

    Is this related to John Key”

    Here is the link you wanted:
    http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/community-service-largest-recorded-snapper-catch-breach-6058151

    Love your humour though, genotype, awsome…. I dont have opposable thumbs but can still type.
    No its not related, but yeah in some way it is, just John and his crew are just a little bit fishy, thats all… nothing more to add.

  13. yeshe 13
    15 August 2014 at 11:26 pm

    @LPrent .. on Prime tonight Sean Plunket asked ( more like accused) Grant Robertson that the Labour Party ran The Standard along the lines that National is accused of in Dirty Politics … you can probably find it on their website if you have Sky and they will let you find a replay.

    • David H 13.1
      17 August 2014 at 9:23 am

      Well Plonker is just another arse kissing Radio Live, TV3 jonolist, just like Garner, and Paddy (I make shit up) Gower. But I must admit the Radio Live jouno watching Keys 20 minute bullshit session did look more than a little sick

  14. Lloyd 14
    16 August 2014 at 12:27 am

    The difference between Whaleill and The Standard was clearly set out on National Radio this morning.

  15. KJS0ne 15
    16 August 2014 at 12:36 am

    Incredible. Looks like a lot of hard work went into documenting and sourcing 285 lies told by John Key. Colour me impressed as hell.

  16. Harry Holland 16
    16 August 2014 at 6:47 am

    So it’s a few days late and buried at the bottom of the page, but at least Stuff is talking about John Key’s lies in Tracy Watkins’ “Hager’s book raises legitimate questions”.

    “Key, for instance, claims Ede’s job is to brief journalists as much as bloggers. He may do, but of the six journalists in the Fairfax office, none has had a call from Ede in years.”

    Watkins however completely misrepresents Hager’s justification for using hacked emails. Also she says “There are people employed on the other side with equally murky positions.” If there are then you’d have to say they aren’t much good. It turns out to be a reference to an incident in 2008. That’s 6 years and 3 Labour leaders back.

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10388172/Hagers-book-raises-legitimate-questions

    It’s not balanced, but we have been conditioned with such imbalance that even an article like this which has only moderate bias seems welcome.

    • geoff 16.1
      16 August 2014 at 9:14 am

      ….but we have been conditioned with such imbalance that even an article like this which has only moderate bias seems welcome.

      sad but true.

  17. Simon 17
    16 August 2014 at 12:27 pm

    John Key clearly wanting to avoid looking into Collins’ actions. Question is why??

  18. karol 18
    16 August 2014 at 2:53 pm

    Evidence of a mis-truth that Key spoke in that TV3 stand up video, is about to be made public.

    The Labour Party is going to release correspondence from the National Party in 2011, that shows the National Party admitting one of there’s was involved in accessing Labour Party confidential material online.

    Speaking to media this afternoon Labour leader David Cunliffe said: “The Labour Party is today releasing correspondence from the National Party, dated 2011, which confirms that at least one of its staff were involved in infiltrating the Labour Party’s website.”

    Mr Cunliffe said he expected Prime Minister John Key to apologise to New Zealanders.

    “Mr Key has recently denied that, so we are providing the correspondence from the National Party, which takes responsibility for it.

    “I would now like to see an apology from the Prime Minister and an admission that he misled the public in the last 48 hours.”

    • Tracey 18.1
      16 August 2014 at 6:53 pm

      moira coatsworth has released an email from the national party saying one of their people did access and take info.

  19. NZJester 19
    16 August 2014 at 6:47 pm

    I’m just glad you limited the John Key list of lies to his most prominent ones in the media and did not include all his half truths and selective figure ones as well in that list. I don’t think I would have had time to read a post with a few thousand examples listed in it!

  20. Blake 20
    16 August 2014 at 9:39 pm

    The liars, corporate/elitist bankster criminals and crooked politicians are being exposed worldwide and they have no where to hide. Clearly their suicide rates will go up. Poor little General Stephen Joyce, who is the real leader, as John Key is just the mouthpiece puppet, like Obama. The corporations run the governments and the lies keep flowing to defend the greed and cover up any ugly indiscretions. The poop is hitting the fan and now watch them scramble to kill the messengers, defend the jerks and lie about the rest of it. Too bad that more voters are not aware and driven out to vote so we can put these deadbeats out to pasture. They could care less about our quality of life or what is best for all New Zealanders and our environment, etc. Is all about PROFIT BEFORE PEOPLE for them. Upper 1% madness and greed. Thanks Nicky Hager for all your good work and efforts to help us again see the ugly side of politics.

  21. Blake 21
    17 August 2014 at 8:09 pm

    Dream on if we think we are ever going to get a sincere and genuine apology for any of the lies that come out of John Keys mouth. He feels he is above it all and above us and just does not have the time or inclination to be ethical. How many asleep sheeple NZ voters does it take to vote him back in? Please wake up NZ. We deserve better than a leader like Stephen Joyce, ooops I mean John Key. Both are so arrogant and dismissive that it makes my blood boil sometimes.

Links to post

The server will be getting hardware changes this evening starting at 10pm NZDT.
The site will be off line for some hours.