I suspect that's exactly what happened. Not everyone has weak ethics.

Quite.

Like most thinking, as opposed to most "following", people

That's not the case. Hide was removed by…

Film, book about Megaupload planned

Love the ACT supporters in the background, you can almost hear them crying out "Braaaiins, if only we had Braaaiins"

Indeed he is.
Firstly there is just the sheer newsworthiness of the story. If playing six degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon is too difficult for you then linking John Banks to just about every scandal…

Well, yes, we do find him to be another name for all kinds of things.

Maybe they should start reprinting those Peoples Republic of Christchurch T-shirts again. I was lucky enough to buy one of…

We know from past experiences how even minor losses in translation can rub people up the wrong way. I've even done it myself.

Gudrun, I know you've apologised somewhat, but this was really unacceptable. Please don't do this sort of thing again.

Some space for hotel rebuilds nearby I understand. I guess the land might be slightly more stable or something – unless the reasons are mainly pork-oriented.

When I was working at a Sydney film studio in the 70s they gave a group of New Guineans a guided tour of the place. Afterwards we were told that they were part of a cargo cult who'd been brought to…

Given Parker's happy complicity in being nobbled by central government, it's largely pie in the sky – as long as he's seen to be doing something, and the Council's cronies can justify their $80,000 for the CEO getting "out & about in the community". But those certainly are their…

ooh. link?

I watched on Friday Campbell Live and the pre recorded interview with Key that aired – although holding some promise – it died when they eventually rubbed each other’s bellies.

http://www.3news.co.nz/John-Key-discusses-Dotcom-saga/tabid/367/articleID/253053/Default.aspx

The answer to most…

(and then hear Banksy say "I know nuffink ....")

The Beeb's Stephen Sackur did, but he's not in NZ. Guyon Espiner held his own quite nicely…

How about kim Dotcom, he's a big guy I would love to see him intimidate johnkey...
"Hey, johnkey. I gave you 10 million and you dump the FBI on me, I gave you a fireworks display and you…

Good.
The Herald has today announced SkyCity has identified 291% more problem gamblers last year than in 2008 but only increased exclusions by 27%, leading Problem Gambling Foundation's spokesman to the conclusion that "it's…

Banks is gone – once the budget gets rolled out and the police conclude the first stage of their investigation and charge Banks – Key might then find the time to address the issue with more than – I have a :"cast iron guarantee" from Banks and fankly I…

Crown lawyers acting for the United States knew before seizing Kim Dotcom's fortune and property that they were using an unlawful court order.

The High Court file has revealed Crown prosecutor Anne Toohey realised there was a paperwork problem on the morning of the…

Recent story touches on the chain of events – including
why Queenstown.

I had to laugh at there isn’t a shred of evidence that he did [anything wrong]. There's his return, and two members of KDC's staff who say that there was a phone call of thanks. The bodyguard took the call, and then called the staffer who…

maths.

Hosking's recall is on a par with his buddy then.

Banks may be eclectic but in my memory he’s never been accused of not being straight up and down.

Banks had a record of being a straight shooter. He’s self made, hard working, deeply conservative, old school. I think given the record, if he says he…

Dotcom's former employee, who didn't want to be named, told the Dominion Post he personally wrote out the cheques on the account of Megastuff, the Megaupload founder's company.

He also said Mr Banks called Dotcom's bodyguard Wayne Tempero to say thank you…

NZH: Nats' role in Banks fundraising

The Herald has obtained paperwork showing the development of the campaign to get Mr Banks elected. The "mentor group" had four people placed in charge of fundraising including Mr Simpson and fellow former National Party board member Michelle Boag. The other…

Yeah, to handle the sale of our state owned assets. which he'll know will be easy. The man isn't stupid. Westpac calling. His disassociation was healthy. IMO

Tshirt.

Dotcondiment.

wouldn't this be 'using a Dotcomument to obtain a pecuniary advantage'?

After last night denying it, Act leader John Banks this afternoon confirmed he got a discounted deal at Kim Dotcom's favourite Hong Kong hotel during his stay there last year but says he negotiated the discount himself.

Private sector CEO delegation tendencies coming back to bite him.

but think of the children

They didn't imply anything of the sort. They merely suggested a lot of people who have contact with Key knew. A lot of people whose job it is to keep Key informed. No suggestion at all that he would have actually…

The latest developments came as Banks admitted he had dinner at the home of former Natural Dairy boss Jack Chen with bankrupt May Wang – who are now facing corruption charges in Hong Kong.

A source close to Banks' mayoralty campaign team believed Chen had…

Exactly what I hand in mind! T-shirt print, anyone?

It's here though:
http://thestandard.org.nz/resignationwatch-oopsie/.

It contains some of the original interview:

Mary Wilson (Checkpoint): [... In that interview I asked Mr. Simmons if he had asked Mr. Banks if he had received donations from Mr. Dotcom, and he had this to say:]

Chris Simmons (ACT President): “Not…

That is just how daft the law is – to actually consider that there is viable degree of seperation. It does not serve the public interest.

Sorry. Thought it would be everywhere in a few minutes.

NBR says that:

John Banks denies asking Kim Dotcom to split a $50K donation so it could remain anonymous.

I'm not sure he did though, did he?

Online predictions market iPredict has ACT leader John Banks and National MP Maurice Williamson both being stood down as ministers by May 15...

Personally, I think the iPredicters are totally wrong about Williamson (had him to go at over 97 cents last night!),…

I am surprised his name hasn't come up more often, given his past escapades.

I believe Mr Geddis addressed that recently. Or maybe it was Mr Edgeler? Apparently the wording in the act does not link the candidate and their campaign team as much as the equivalent central electoral legislatation does.

An…

It really was. Now if only that skill could be put to better use.

Thinking about it: it may mean the account was in Queenstown
not…

__Slyest approach was Trevor Mallard's question to Mr Banks about charter schools in his capacity as associate education minister. Rolling several of the Government's problems together in an ingenious ball, Mr Mallard asked whether an application had been made…

There is the letter of the law, there is the spirit of the law and there is intent. Like the Prime Minister, I'm no lawyer but it seems to me most ordinary people do not have a…

NZH: Banks: I briefed Dotcom

John Banks says he kept political donor Kim Dotcom briefed on the progress of his application to buy 45 hectares of Kiwi land for $45 million.

The statement has been backed by Dotcom – but Mr Banks' "good friend", Land Information Minister Maurice Williamson,…

Anonymous donations should not be permitted at all but they have been allowed under strict conditions because political parties say few wealthy or corporate donors would contribute if their names had to be made public.

Are they seriously saying that if all donations had to be…

It's up on the Labour Blog . Was linked to in the comments part of his post for the non facebookers like me { :)

And one of them was mine, to my endless shame...

I think it's an abbreviation for detonator. Perfectly apt in this case.

Yeah, in America.

I checked my Oxford. Donator is a word. It means a person who receives a donation. And in a separate definition, it means a person who…

Banks must resign over gift scandal

Not just stand down during the inquiry — resign.

Banks should be sacked for mangling the English language! His repeated description of Dotcom as a "donater" last night on TV3 made me cringe.

we must be listening to different people :)

Also '02? The Greens spent most of that campaign attacking Helen Clark and Labour. It's hardly a surprise there was a degree of caution there.

From my understanding, it's about how the negotations were conducted (and in 02 as well), not the numbers which I agree were never in their favour.

I grew weary of trying to explain that…

I think that for all the `there's only a few seats in it' that just isn't true --- Labour were never going to lead a government no matter the mathematical possibilities.

Also, speaking of mathematical possibilities, what…

Knowing what Banks is like, it makes absolute sense.

Charming, Mr two barges.

Jeffrey Archer, Ian Paisley, most of the US Republican Party, Zamzami Abdelbari. I could go on.

Yes 100%.

Oh yes, "can't remember. I've got a helicopter too y'know." { :)

Well, I'm sorta right, in that I know lots of people (including family) that do know him . When I had a shop in Parnell, he would get exercise walking the streets around there and…

Yeah, I'm confused now. Need a timeline.

If they were arranged at around the same time, then someone has suggested to Banks in the last day or so that it might be a useful way to defuse the phone call evidence.

Campbell Live showed…

Had to retract, on the grounds that not now 100% sure I heard right.

LOL, that's a thought. So some good may come of that debacle after all.

Nah, he's proud of being a twit. It's his thing.

Nah, I would wager it's JB who invited Kim and Mona. The party being held at a prominent Property Developers apartment. I'd wager…

Big call for Len here, then. He's clearly been looking to not rock the boat lately, given the bullying that has come his way from central government. But if he's asked…

Gower says Banks' return noted 45 anonymous donations totalling $638,512.

Len Brown appeared to be saying that SkyCity told him that they were donating to both himself and Banks.

By "treading water", I was referring to downward mobility – the kind of situation where weakening middle classes foment a latent inferiority complex and blame those…

Yes, really.

Plus they thought they were all riding high for numbers giving them a vast majority. Until that fateful cuppa... hehehehehe { :)

Yup, but they weren't to know that in advance. They could have needed 40,000 to switch, which was by no means guaranteed.…

And how convenient that Banks now recalls a phone call but it's for the fireworks. (just in case eh?)

These guys, (Key, Banks et al) are not used to having anyone question their word, their behaviour, their friendships. They believe their standing in the community exempts them from that. Their arrogance is often what let's their guard down…

Then you think far better of him than I…

Phone records are normally only stored by phone companies for around three-six months in an easily retrievable format. I am not sure of the current regulatory environment for keeping them for longer, but even if they are it would…

My guess is that he looked at his phone records for the period around April, found nothing and so thought he was sweet. Now Dotcom says June. heheh, we'll just see...

No, he claims he did call to thank him... but for something else!

(unless you mean "no phone recording", in which case, he certainly is).

Had a chat with an old colleague the other week, good…

You make the false assumption that Key is leading, when he is only fronting this National government. Joyce, Brownlee and McCully would still be there, and Collins and a few others,…