By 3 News online staff
The infamous pre-election ‘teapot tapes’ have been leaked on the internet.
A recording of the tape, captured during a publicity stunt for John Key and ACT MP John Banks, has appeared on YouTube and an upload site.
Mr Key was forced to change his cellphone number today after it was revealed in the tape.
The original upload was accompanied by text saying: “PLEASE GO TO THIS URL AND HELP SEED THE TEAPOT TAPE SO THAT IT _CANT_ BE TAKEN BACK!”
The Prime Minister today apologised to pensioners after remarks on the tape implied that Winston Peters' elderly voting base was dying.
"Older New Zealanders at some point pass away, and it's a statement of fact that Winston Peters' base has typically been represented by older New Zealanders," Mr Key said in Auckland, after giving his state of the nation speech.
"But that was a private conversation. I would always phrase things in a better way if it was a public conversation.
"So if there was offence, yes I would apologise for that, but I haven't listened to the tape."
Mr Key would not comment on whether the leaker would face prosecution, saying it was a matter for police.
"[Publishing of the tape] is not something I've authorised, so anyone that's done that may find themselves in breach of the law."
Police seek patrons from ‘teapot tape’ café
Auckland police say they are aware of the online leak and are again appealing for six patrons who were in the Urban Café at the time of a pre-election meeting.
Police want to hear from four women and two men they believe were present in the café while the meeting was taking place.
“We believe these six people were present as patrons and would like to find out who they were and speak with them. They may unwittingly have information that would assist our inquiry,” says Detective Senior Sergeant Kevin Hooper.
Police have also made inquiries with a range of other people including media organisations, others present at the Café and the legal representative for freelance cameraman Bradley Ambrose - who recorded the conversation.
They say the online leak will be factored into the investigation.
The origin of the tapes
The tapes came about when Mr Key and Mr Banks met for a cup of tea in Newmarket, inviting the media.
Mr Ambrose left a recording device on their table, subsequently recording their entire conversation.
Mr Key and Mr Banks slammed media over the recordings, saying the conversation was intended to be private.
Mr Key lodged a formal complaint with police over the tapes and denounced media for News of the World-style tactics, while journalists argued the café recording was in the public interest and should be released.
News of the World victims’ lawyer Mark Lewis called for the release of the Teapot Tape at the time.
The pending police investigation hamstrung media efforts to report on the conversation, until NZ First leader Winston Peters leaked details he alleged were on the tape.
Mr Peters told a public meeting in Invercargill that Mr Banks called his leader a “strange fellow”, and discussed replacing him with party president Catherine Isaac. He also said Mr Key told Mr Banks that NZ First’s voters were “dying off”.
Pressure mounted on Mr Key to answer tape allegations, but he called the conversation “mundane” and a matter for the police.
On November 17, the cameraman at the centre of the controversy filed civil proceedings at the High Court in Auckland. He sought a court ruling over the tapes to determine whether the recorded café conversation was private or public.
If ruled public, media could legally report on the conversation and the police investigation would be all but over.
With just three days until the election, Chief High Court Judge Justice Helen Winkelmann announced she would not rule on the teapot tapes until after the police investigation.
The day after the ruling police executed a search warrant at TV3, taking copies of the tape, a transcript of the tape, video footage from the tea party and notes from a conversation between Director of 3 News Mark Jennings and Mr Ambrose.
3 News
source: newshub archive
