Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: #JohnDotBanks and all

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  • Sacha, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    hey mansions all look the same to me. And helicopters.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    You’re probably right, but I wonder if Banks isn’t some kind of peculiarly NZ phenomenon.

    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 offered greetings if one was in his path, thus making himself known. He is a local and as one myself, we get out and about. Still as Sacha said, different parties but they did know each other.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Flamboyant former hacker to settle in NZ

    Former Auckland mayor John Banks was among others to extend a welcoming hand to Dotcom.

    He met the businessman when he was Auckland mayor to ask for help putting on a fireworks display in the city's harbour. Banks later attended a New Year's Eve party thrown by Dotcom at the city centre apartment of now bankrupt property developer David Henderson.

    He said it provided a great view of $500,000 worth of fireworks bought by Dotcom and detonated over the Waitemata Harbour.

    Banks said he offered advice to the millionaire on how to apply for Overseas Investment Commission permission to buy the Coatesville mansion Dotcom had rented since coming to New Zealand.

    Kim who?.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    To me Banks is still the same guy who back in the early 90s advocated exploiting the high proportion of incarcerated Maori by establishing a prison-based souvenir industry. I don't believe that he ever resiled from that.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Sacha,

    And helicopters.

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

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    To me Banks is still the same guy

    Yes 100%.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    As for the story that Kim Dotcom put on the fireworks as a big hello and thanks to Auckland…
    Auckland City Council (Mayor John Banks) Put out this Media Statement

    Auckland will welcome 2011 with the biggest fireworks display since the millennium celebrations.

    The countdown to 2011 will be marked by two coordinated pyrotechnic displays – one from Sky City’s Sky Tower and another from two barges anchored on the Waitemata Harbour.

    Like I said "Kim Who?"

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    Do they have people like that in other countries?

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

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    from two barges anchored on the Waitemata Harbour.

    Charming, Mr two barges.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    his mate Hone Carter could have helped him out with that plan

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    Zamzami Abdelbari

    The Egypt necrophilia hoax. Goodness me.
    Now that it's no longer possible to conceal the stench of ACT's rotting carcass I can see the connection with Banks.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    I'm getting a bit confused about the ins and outs of this story but is this part correct or just rumour? This issue arose because when Kim Dotcom was having a bad time in prison he asked who the local MP was, and on learning it was his friend JB asked him to help him out. Whereupon the MP refused to admit knowing him. Consequently the previous good relationship is no longer.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    That suggestion is in one of the David Fisher stories and is attributed to another MP who tripped, David Garrett. Just wondering whether there is any more to that part of the story as it is an interesting angle.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    Garrett made that comment on Kiwibog. No supporting evidence presented, though it makes some sense.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    though it makes some sense

    Knowing what Banks is like, it makes absolute sense.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    For the party of law and order, ACT are looking pretty bloody criminal.

    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 on earth do you mean, `how Labour treated the Greens in '05'? The Greens didn't have the numbers, NZ First and UF did. Sucks to be the Greens, but you can hardly hold that against Labour.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Keir Leslie,

    Also, speaking of mathematical possibilities, what on earth do you mean, `how Labour treated the Greens in ‘05’? The Greens didn’t have the numbers, NZ First and UF did. Sucks to be the Greens, but you can hardly hold that against Labour.

    I grew weary of trying to explain that in online discussions. The sad thing is, the Greens were only a few votes off an additional list seat which would have greatly strengthened their case.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Keir Leslie,

    `how Labour treated the Greens in '05'

    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.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    From my understanding that isn’t actually what people say though, and further, if it is, dear lord, get over yourselves.

    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.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    This issue arose because when Kim Dotcom was having a bad time in prison he asked who the local MP was, and on learning it was his friend JB asked him to help him out.

    Wouldn't that be more likely to be simply calling in a past favour?
    If you wanted an MP's help while incarcerated, wouldn't you contact the member from wherever you'd normally vote, rather than for the electorate in which you're currently held? I don't recall Rodney Hide building a profile as a prison visitor during his time as MP for Epsom.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Keir Leslie,

    but you can hardly hold that against Labour.

    Labour in 05 all but told "vote us where it counts in so we get the marginal seats and we will coalesce with the Greens". Rather than forming a coalition with the Greens where it would have had to have made policy concessions, Labour screwed the Greens royally, claiming in a a fit of sophistry that it had never promised anything.

    Instead Labour went with the odious Peter Dunne giving United Future direct entry to power. I clearly remember a Christchurch UF oik MP on ZB radio the Monday morning after the election ranting that "anyone who voted Green was insane" (direct quote) and spitting other bile. UF refused to go in with Labour if the Greens were in too and for some reason Labour kowtowed. It was shameful, and until then I had often voted Labour. Never have since. Labour seem to me to be only interested in Green votes, not Green policies.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Keir Leslie,

    what people say

    we must be listening to different people :)

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Keir Leslie,

    From my understanding that isn’t actually what people say though, and further, if it is, dear lord, get over yourselves.

    Labour is a dying party precisely because the members cannot get over themselves. Who is really interested in their infighting; not the voters.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Hebe,

    Going with Winston and The Hair made good MMP sense for Labour.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Hebe, in reply to Sacha,

    Going with Winston and The Hair made good MMP sense for Labour

    Not long term.

    Christchurch • Since May 2011 • 2899 posts Report Reply

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