Finally, the Teapot Tape?

12:31 Jan 26, 2012 118

On YouTub, Soundcloud and BitTorrent. Appears to be what it says on the label. Feel free to analyse, transcribe, clean up, ignore, whatever.

Update 3: Now that I'm back in the house, I've restored the link to the recording on Soundcloud. See media lawyer Steven Price's reasoning on this here. Scoop is also providing the link.

Update 2: I've removed the links to YouTube and Soundcloud. Sorry to be a pain, but I'm going out for a few hours and I won't be in a position to act with dispatch in removing them should that prove to be urgently necessary.

You will have little trouble finding them via Twitter -- where a number of other journalists have shared them -- or by searching the various platforms where the recording is available.

118 responses to this post

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Russell Brown, 12:36 Jan 26, 2012

From Stuff’s story:
At one point Key gives Banks a cellphone number – one that has not been widely circulated – apparently confirming the authenticity of the tape.

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report
Pete George, 12:44 Jan 26, 2012

Are the the timing, the opening Occupy screen and this morning's events in Auckland a coincidence?

Dunedin • Since Dec 2011 • 139 posts Report
BenWilson, 12:44 Jan 26, 2012

Yeah that's really hard to hear. Banksy is a real mumbler. Key, OTOH is hilariously Outrageous Fortune all through. "Yeah, nah,..." "Yeahyeahyeahyeah, heheh, eh?". It's a tiny bit heartening to hear that he's not putting that on most of the time.
Edit: I thoroughly recommend the Soundcloud one, it's way clearer than the YouTube

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report
Russell Brown, 12:50 Jan 26, 2012

The file is also available via BitTorrent. It would seem to be irretrievably in the wild now.

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report
3410, 12:51 Jan 26, 2012

Nice plausible deniability arranging from about 6:10.

Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report
Lilith __, 12:54 Jan 26, 2012

It would appear Key did say what Peters said he did! (about NZF’s supporters dying out)
Love the bit at the end when he says, “ That’s a recording device! ”

Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report
merc, 12:57 Jan 26, 2012

Theatre!

Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report
Stephen Judd, 12:58 Jan 26, 2012

Is it wrong of me to have guffawed at the YT clip title?

Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report
Adzze, 12:59 Jan 26, 2012

ITT: Let's make fun of Key's mannerisms in lieu of anything shocking or even interesting in the recording. The only winner in this pathetic business is Winston First. Thanks, NZ media. Watergate's got nothing on you.

Wellington • Since Nov 2010 • 7 posts Report
George Darroch, 12:59 Jan 26, 2012

Not much to report. A prediction about NZFirst getting 3% (which would have been accurate if not for media games in the last week), a little comment on Labour's negative strategy and the correct ascertainment that it backfires on them when they use it, and some rather asinine comments from Key about ACT's lack of support - he's rather charitable to Banks.
I'm surprised, actually.

WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report
George Darroch, 13:03 Jan 26, 2012

Key seems to have much the same public and private personas, unless you consider that this is not a fully open conversation with a trusted confidante. That would entail further levels of speculation, so mileage may vary going down that route.

WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report
Russell Brown, in reply to 3410, 13:06 Jan 26, 2012

Nice plausible deniability arranging from about 6:10.
That seems to be the most notable element, really.
That and: police were sent into newsrooms in election week for this?

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report
Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown, 13:07 Jan 26, 2012

Panic-pants earning the nickname.

Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report
George Darroch, 13:07 Jan 26, 2012

The only winner in this pathetic business is Winston First. Thanks, NZ media. Watergate’s got nothing on you.
Quite. There were, are, issues of real substance that affected the lives and futures of New Zealanders in play during the election, some of which had made the 'agenda', others of which had stayed firmly off it. Things like; child poverty, our environmental situation, and our relations and trade with Asia. Instead we got ridiculous political theatre over something which turns out to have been entirely mundane, and not in the least politically damaging.
Yes, Key would have been seen just a fraction less as not the 'honest broker'. Shock! The PM engages in political consideration! But that's the entirety of it.

WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report
Dylan Reeve, in reply to Russell Brown, 13:09 Jan 26, 2012

That and: police were sent into newsrooms in election week for this?
Well Key always said it was about the principle, so perhaps he was telling the truth about that much.
I certainly hope this whole situation does make it into a court one day because there were some very interesting issues of law involved.

Auckland • Since Aug 2008 • 311 posts Report
Tom Semmens, 13:09 Jan 26, 2012

It seems clear now that Key’s furious reaction to the revelation of the tapes existence was based entirely on the fact he was personally pissed off.
In his massive over-reaction, the corporate culture of managerial bullying and intolerance to dissent that pervades his whole government could not be more starkly revealed.

Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report
merc, 13:12 Jan 26, 2012

Key mentions rather obtusely that TV3 are on his side, onboard I think he says. I think this is a very interesting window into the level of leadership we enjoy.
Key, bla bla bla (as filler for what he will say), and the mention by the two of them of always saying they are working hard, for whom we are left to surmise.
Oh and who calls a thing on the table a recording device, pluleese, staged much.

Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report
George Darroch, 13:16 Jan 26, 2012

Tom, that's an assumption I'm not prepared to make. Alternate ones include media strategies, not having a plan and simply blustering, and principled action. Any of which you'd find supporting evidence for, depending on where you started.

WLG • Since Nov 2006 • 2264 posts Report
Sacha, in reply to Tom Semmens, 13:21 Jan 26, 2012

Key’s furious reaction
what makes you think he was in charge of the campaign?

Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report
David Cormack, 13:22 Jan 26, 2012

So instead of looking at the announcement of the Government's lack of surplus for 2014/15 we instead focus on some tapes...that say nothing...about anything.
Le sigh.

Suburbia, Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 218 posts Report
BenWilson, 13:25 Jan 26, 2012

Wow, no wonder you're considered an A ESOL student if you can master the NZ accent. I'm struggling to transcribe one especially interesting 7 second bit there, it's taken me several minutes, and this is my native tongue and accent. Key talks really fast. This is the bit I was intrigued by:
2:40 Banksy: Someone's told me, haven't they, you're going to be working with ahhhh....? Key: Yeah, yeah that's good,'s good, yeahnah, that's totally, yeah I reckon you guys are, yeah, yeah well unfortunately that's always the case..<Banks>I didn't</Banks>Key:No, heh <Banks sniggering in background> But you guys are tracking solidly, good luck. So what I'm gonna do when I go out...<etc>
I'd say this one was 90% non verbal, it's exactly how I talk to friends when I'm concerned about being overheard - you use a nod or a raised eyebrow in place of the word that could be embarrassing. Most interesting, from a linguistic POV. I have no idea who they are talking about.
In terms of revelations, well, we all picked it on day one - who cares? Peters spun it because everyone else was too scared. Key handled it really badly, if it had been released it probably would have increased his popularity, he sounds so god-damned kiwi in there. Now they're stuck on the path of overkill.

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report
Russell Brown, 13:27 Jan 26, 2012

At 7.00, Key seems to be saying that someone from Act rang "rang me in the UK" and proposed a snap election to take advantage of Don Brash's inevitable surge of popularity. That's pretty funny.

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report
Russell Brown, in reply to David Cormack, 13:29 Jan 26, 2012

So instead of looking at the announcement of the Government’s lack of surplus for 2014/15 we instead focus on some tapes…that say nothing…about anything.
Le sigh.
No apologies from me. I was deeply concerned by National's response at the time, as a media freedom issue. I'm far more appalled by that than the actual contents of the tape.

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report
BenWilson, in reply to Russell Brown, 13:30 Jan 26, 2012

That's pretty funny.
Yes, if they were poking fun at Brash at that point, it was not without justification.

Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report
Tom Semmens, 13:30 Jan 26, 2012

what makes you think he was in charge of the campaign?
Oh, he is in charge all right. I think listening to the tapes you can now see the entire affair was inflated way out of proportion because John Key’s didn’t like it. His advisors probaly would have said to release them.
People make a big deal about about how he milked it to turn the tables on the media, but in fact the real impact of his tanty was NZ First back to parliament – something that took him to within 2 seats of potentially losing power.

Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report