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Notice how the only people who "believe" John Banks are the ones who haven't (and won't) read the police report? Key: But Prime Minister John Key is clinging onto Mr Banks – a crucial vote that keeps him in power. In fact, Mr Key refuses…
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Get ready for a week of farce - but important farce - in the House. The Opposition will be peppering Key and Banks on the numerous holes in their position. The lies and contradictions pile on each other every day. Key will play dumb and…
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It's a regular gripe of mine about our media that they don't establish facts. I don't find the "he said, she said" reporting style in the slightest bit helpful, and indeed encourages us, the public, to see all news as gossip and reduces our respect…
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John Key is wrong, John Banks has broken the law. He just did not get prosecuted. The return of donations he signed and submitted in 2010 is false, as the Police have stated. He should now correct it, or he is still in breach of…
accountability democratic participation electoral commission Ethics john banks john key local body elections police
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John Banks is trying to blame the Police for the fact that the transcript of his 3-hour interview with detectives over his campaign donations was held back from the OIA release of the Police file. Another lie. It was Banks' choice for the transcript to…
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The Police Report into the Banks.com affair, which Labour has distributed to the media, is a gold mine. Banks is shown to be a liar and completely unethical. It's a huge report and things will keep being discovered, but here's some of the remarkable points…
auckland supercity corruption john banks john key local body elections
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In July, I requested the Police file of their investigation into John Banks so-called anonymous donations. It arrived today. The key to their conclusion is as follows: 38. Further analysis in respect of the evidence collected in the investigation established that the return was wrong…
accountability corruption democracy under attack election funding john banks john key local government
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Frank Macskasy over at Frankly Speaking writes some very long posts that are often full of interesting information. This one does a good analysis of the recommendations from the Electoral Commission and various party positions on it. On the way through he has a good…
act conservative party dpf election 2014 electoral commission electoral systems greens john banks mana maori party MMP national nz first political parties Politics united future
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"In all these roles and at all times, Ministers are expected to act lawfully and to behave in a way that upholds, and is seen to uphold, the highest ethical standards. Ultimately, Ministers are accountable to the Prime Minister for their behaviour." - The Cabinet…
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Key says the local elections law is an ass. Presumably, he knows what that phrase means: it delivers unjust results. Key thinks its unjust that Banks has escaped justice for his anonymous donation rort. Well, John you're not helpless. Banks lied to media. He lied…
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Matt McCarten doesn't pull any punches, comparing Banks to both Phillip Field and Winston Peters: Penance depends on party of political sinner Taito Phillip Field had constituents give their labour as a trade-off for immigration help. John Banks asked a wealthy Aucklander for $50,000 and…
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Sure enough, this isn't over for John Banks. He has now been caught out in a direct lie told while he was a minister. On April 27, when asked about Mr Dotcom's donations, Mr Banks told the Herald: "I kept the finances of the campaign…
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Police will not lay charges over the so-called banks.com saga. Assistant Police Commissioner Malcolm Burgess held a press conference this afternoon at Police National Headquarters in Wellington. Minister John Banks would be issued with a warning over the matter, Burgess said. While he only received…
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Police were unable to establish that Mr Banks had the necessary knowledge that the donation had been recorded as anonymous in the return before he signed and submitted it. As No Right Turn puts it: So basically they're letting him off because he didn't read…
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The Police have concluded their investigation into John Banks' declaration that he did not know that Kim Dotcom and Sky City had made significant donations to his 2010 mayoral campaign, so recorded them as anonymous. If he can be shown beyond reasonable doubt to have…
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Labour's got its Auditor-General inquiry into Jones' approval of Yan's citizenship. We've seen this movie before. In a year, the report will recommend better procedures but nothing more. Jone will be reinstated. The politics is more important. Shearer's shown he has the power to control…
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David Shearer, with Shane Jones' support, has stood Jones down and asked the Auditor-General to investigate his handling of Bill Yan's citizenship affair. It sets a new, high standard. Whether Jones was right or wrong, he at least has a coherent story and there's no…
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Brilliant Emmerson cartoon in The Herald (if you're missing the reference, see this controversial Time front page):
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The Jackal raised the question of corruption in relation to John Banks in a comment on Eddie's "met or meet" post, and has written more about it on his blog. It was based on Dave Fisher's revelations in today's Herald. DotCom's bodyguard reported that in July…
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Rebekah and Charlie Brooks have been charged with perverting the course of justice in relation to the News International phone-hacking affair. Others to be charged are Mrs Brooks's former PA Cheryl Carter, the company's head of security Mark Hanna, News International chauffeur Paul Edwards and…
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2 in 1 special: Scott at Imperator Fish has kindly given us permission to syndicate posts from his blog – the original of this post is here. An emergency quarantine zone has been established around the Beehive building in Wellington, after reports of senior government ministers inexplicably falling ill. A civil…
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On YouTube: Published on May 6, 2012 by MrKimDotcom Amnesia is a song about the John Banks donation saga in New Zealand. For details watch this news story by John Campbell: http://bit.ly/Itv7OY Share & play the song anywhere you like - It's free. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CvRSZxqk_I
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So much of what shapes the current political landscape traces its roots back to the fateful tea party, the meeting between Key and Banks intended to gift the electorate to ACT. It did that - and more. Cameraman Bradley Ambrose accidentally recorded a "private" conversation…
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Banks is deadmeat. It's just a matter of time before Key gives him the boot. Politically, he must. He has grounds, even on the limited 'ethics while a minister' test he has created. We're now just waiting for something sufficiently new that Key can use…
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Does he believe Banks' account of the Dotcom donation? What corroborating evidence has he or his staff sought to confirm Banks statement, particularly as more irregularities and contradictions have emerged? Ethical and legal behaviour are both requirements of ministers in the Cabinet Manual - Key…
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The media are doing their job, and a good job, investigating John Banks' donation history. Today's story by Danya Levy in the DomPost follows up those by John Campbell on Campbell Live and David Fisher in the Herald. The Police are presumably also doing theirs,…
act brand key democratic participation election 2011 election 2014 john banks john key leadership MMP national Privatisation same old national
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Why did Banks declare as anonymous $15K that SkyCity openly gave to him, when Brown declared his donation? Why did Banks claim he couldn't remember flying to the Dotcom mansion in Dotcom's chopper when no sane person thinks that is something you would forget? Did…
act auckland supercity john banks john key local body elections
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Slippery old Key said on Monday and Tuesday that he had to apply a legal test to whether John Banks should stay on as a minister. The Cabinet manual demands the highest ethical standards. Now, Key's flip-flopped: ethics are required - but only after one…
by-election corruption john banks john key local government slippery
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The sheer volume of ill-informed commentary about National's "big win" after the last election was mind boggling. Stuck in old FPP thinking? John Key fanboi-ism? Unable to see past the two big parties? Whatever the cause, it was all such a crock. In reality National's…
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ACT Party President Chris Simmons - who opposed the Brash coup that lead to John Banks being ACT's sole MP - 'accidentally' dropped Banks right in it on Radio New Zealand's Checkpoint. He said "[Banks] made the suggestion to Dotcom" to split his donation into…