Yet again the State [You and I] rescue the PM after he flips his lid and attempts to use the Police to dish out the dirt...This is the very latest failure by the PM to show some guts and act like a real man...
Dirty Politics author Nicky Hagar received tax-payers cash after the police and Key fell face down in the mud...while Hagar scored a brilliant try.
Jon Stevenson the well known reporter had the military guys spending thousands of tax-payers hard earned dollars...as they and Key were shown to be 5th grade players...and Stevenson scored between the posts...
And Now Bradley Ambrose leaves Key siting on his bum on his own goal-line as Bradley sweetly pots a goal... No world cup for the PM...sad that don't you think.
Dirty Politics author Nicky Hagar received tax-payers cash after the police and Key fell face down in the mud...while Hagar scored a brilliant try.
Jon Stevenson the well known reporter had the military guys spending thousands of tax-payers hard earned dollars...as they and Key were shown to be 5th grade players...and Stevenson scored between the posts...
And Now Bradley Ambrose leaves Key siting on his bum on his own goal-line as Bradley sweetly pots a goal... No world cup for the PM...sad that don't you think.
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| Key and Banks stunt back-fires... |
Prime Minister and Bradley Ambrose settle over infamous
'teapot tapes' 
STACEY KIRK
Last updated 14:44, March 21 2016
This from FAIRFAX NZ
In 2012 police announced they would not lay charges over the
"teapot tape" saga and said freelance cameraman Bradley Ambrose would
receive a warning.
Prime Minister John Key and journalist Bradley Ambrose have
settled over defamation proceedings surrounding the infamous "teapot
tapes" of the 2011 election.
The deal involves a
cash payment from Key [note
this is not paid by Key but by the PM’s Office, why does the MSM not make this
clear?] toward costs incurred by Ambrose in the lengthy battle. Ambrose
had recorded a private conversation between John Key and former ACT Party
leader John Banks at an Auckland cafe a couple of weeks before the 2011 general
election. This became known as the "teapot tapes" saga.
The Prime Minister has accepted that journalist Bradley
Ambrose did not deliberately record the conversation between himself and John
Banks at this photo-op in 2011, or otherwise behave improperly. Ambrose also
accepts that Key believed that the conversation had been deliberately recorded
at the time Key made his statements.
Ambrose has maintained the microphone was left by mistake.
He claimed Key made defamatory comments about him on multiple occasions since
the incident, believing Ambrose recorded the conversation on purpose.
 |
| Bradley Ambrose has victory... |
READ MORE:
* Crowdfunding campaign started for 'teapot tapes' cameraman to sue John Key
* 'Teapot tape' saga dropped
* Police visit TV3 over tea tape
* Cameraman to take Prime Minister John Key to court
* Crowdfunding campaign started for 'teapot tapes' cameraman to sue John Key
* 'Teapot tape' saga dropped
* Police visit TV3 over tea tape
* Cameraman to take Prime Minister John Key to court
The Prime Minister's office confirmed a cash payment would
be paid to Ambrose as part of the settlement.
Cameraman Bradley Ambrose has settled with the Prime
Minister over comments John Key made about him in the wake of the 2011 teapot
tapes scandal.
"A small payment towards Mr Ambrose's costs will be
made from the Parliamentary leaders budget.
"The exact sum is confidential, but it is a pragmatic payment in the context of what it would have cost to defend in Court," a spokeswoman said.
The settlement stops short of the PM offering an apology for comments made about Ambrose, but both sides have accepted each other's explanations.
"The exact sum is confidential, but it is a pragmatic payment in the context of what it would have cost to defend in Court," a spokeswoman said.
The settlement stops short of the PM offering an apology for comments made about Ambrose, but both sides have accepted each other's explanations.
The Prime Minister's office has confirmed a small cash
payment toward Ambrose's court costs had been made from his
Leader's Budget.
Earlier this morning, Ambrose cryptically commented that his
cup of tea was tasting more pleasant.
Calls to Ambrose were not immediately answered.
Most recently, the saga was back in the spotlight earlier
this month when Former journalist Greg Treadwell started the Givealittle page towards
Ambrose's fight to clear his name.
He said Ambrose needed a total of $38,000 to be
able to bring the case to court. It's yet not clear what will happen to the
$8000 already donated.
An agreed statement between Key and
Ambrose reads:
"In the days following the meeting between Hon John
Banks and Rt Hon John Key at the Urban Café in Newmarket on the 11th of
November 2011, Mr Key made a number of comments in the media to the effect that
Mr Ambrose had deliberately recorded the conversation between Mr Key and Mr
Banks, and compared Mr Ambrose's conduct to the News of the World.
"These comments caused harm to Mr Ambrose personally
and professionally.
"The comments reflected Mr Key's honestly held views at
that time.
"Mr Key and Mr Ambrose have met to discuss the events
of that day. Mr Key now accepts that Mr Ambrose did not deliberately
record the conversation, or otherwise behave improperly.
"Mr Ambrose now accepts that Mr Key believed that the
conversation had been deliberately recorded at the time Mr Key made his
statements.
"The proceeding relating to these statements has been
settled."
Teapot Tapes - the timeline:
November 11, 2011: Prime Minister John Key meets John Banks, the ACT Party's
Epsom candidate, at a central Auckland cafe over a cup of tea to provide a
tactical endorsement ahead of the election. Freelance cameraman Bradley Ambrose
leaves a recording device on the table, capturing the conversation between Key and
Banks, and retrieves it after their meeting finishes.
November 13, 2011: Key blasts the "News of the World tactics" used to obtain the
recording, claiming the act was deliberate after the Herald on Sunday reveals
it has obtained a copy of the recording. Ambrose says the microphone was left
on the table by mistake.
November 14, 2011: Key lays a formal complaint with police against Ambrose
over the recording, after taking legal advice.
November 24, 2011: Police raid TV3 to collect information related to the
"teapot tapes" meeting.
January 2012: Key is forced to change his phone number after a copy of
the recording is leaked online.
March 2012: Police announce that Ambrose will not face charges, after he pens a "letter
of regret" to Key. The PM says he feels "totally vindicated", but
Ambrose stands by his claim that the recording was an accident.
December 2014: Ambrose files defamation papers against Key, claiming $1.25
million in damages
March 2015: A two-week High Court trial for Ambrose's defamation case is set down for February 2016.
March 4, 2016: A crowdfunding campaign is launched to help Ambrose with
legal costs for the case, raising more than $8000.
March 21, 2016: Key's office announces that he and
Ambrose have settled the case in an "agreed statement", with the PM
making a cash payment towards Ambrose's costs. The settlement stops short of
the PM offering an apology for comments made about Ambrose, but both sides have
accepted each other's explanations.
No Right Turn published this on the subject:
No Right Turn published this on the subject:
Monday, March 21, 2016
Why are we paying for John Key's mistake?
Remember the Teapot Tape scandal? John Key had his police raid newsrooms
just days before an election in an effort to intimidate them into not
publishing information he didn't want made public. Then he defamed
Bradley Ambrose, accusing him of deliberately recording the conversation
and comparing him to News of the World journalists. Now, he's settled the resulting defamation suit. But the kicker? We're paying for it:
The problem? Leader's office funding must be used for "Parliamentary purposes". The Speaker's Directions give examples, including policy development, communications, ICT, and helping members in "discharging their responsibilities as legislators and elected representatives". Settling defamation suits stemming from comments made in a personal capacity as a candidate does not seem to fall within that. But even if it is "within the rules" (as politicians love to say), its certainly not what the public expects this money to be used for.
Bluntly, John Key defamed Bradley Ambrose. He should be paying the expenses for that himself, not stealing from the taxpayer to do it. His refusal to bear the costs himself is just another way to deny responsibility, and it makes him a thief.
The problem? Leader's office funding must be used for "Parliamentary purposes". The Speaker's Directions give examples, including policy development, communications, ICT, and helping members in "discharging their responsibilities as legislators and elected representatives". Settling defamation suits stemming from comments made in a personal capacity as a candidate does not seem to fall within that. But even if it is "within the rules" (as politicians love to say), its certainly not what the public expects this money to be used for.
Bluntly, John Key defamed Bradley Ambrose. He should be paying the expenses for that himself, not stealing from the taxpayer to do it. His refusal to bear the costs himself is just another way to deny responsibility, and it makes him a thief.
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