A copy of what is claimed to be the infamous 'tea tape' recording of a conversation between the Prime Minister and Act candidate John Banks before the election has been leaked online.
The pair met in a Newmarket cafe on November 11 so John Key could give Banks a public show of support for him to win the Epsom seat, allowing Act to return to Parliament and help National form a Government.
A media scrum accompanied the duo, but was barred from listening to the actual conversation they had over their drinks.
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However, freelance cameraman Bradley Ambrose left a microphone in a pouch on the table and picked up the discussion.
Key laid a complaint with police claiming the recording was made without his permission, and a High Court judge declined to rule whether the conversation was public in Ambrose's defence.
Coverage of the tapes and their contents dominated the build-up to the election, and may have led to a resurgence in the polls for Winston Peters' NZ First party.
He claimed he had heard the tapes and was going to reveal the details of the discussion, in which he said the two men insulted his party's older supporters.
Key said at the time he was not worried about what he might have said.
"I believe the conversation to be bland and I've got no reason - from people who have listened to the tape and told me their version of it - to believe otherwise," he said.
For legal reasons TVNZ will not provide details of the conversation or the website the recording has been leaked to.
Key apologises
Key today apologised if he caused any offence to "older New Zealanders".
During the furore last year Peters hinted at the contents of the tape.
When today pressed about the apparent content of the tape, Key said: "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.
"But that was a private conversation, I would always phrase things in a better way if it was a public conversation because that's just the nature of the way people talk. So if there was offence, yes, I apologise for that."
Asked if any his comments were disrespectful, Key said: "If it was a public conversation, I may say exactly the same thing but in a slightly more respectful way but I haven't heard the tapes so I can't fully comment on it.
"Quite honestly, I've got much bigger things to worry about than that."
Key reiterated that he had not authorised release of the tape,
"so anyone that's done that may find themselves in breach of the
law but that's a matter for them".
"That wouldn't be for me to make that case. I have made a complaint
to the police but it's important to understand the position as I
see it.
''That is a private conversation, I am not authorising it to be publicly released. If people have chosen to do that, they have chosen to do that."
Key said he had still not heard the tape and remained reluctant
to comment on the contents. However, he said that "in due course"
he would listen to the tape.
Peters said it was time for Key to withdraw his "time-wasting and
trivial complaint".
He said Key's apology for his "callous remarks" about NZ First supporters had been a long time coming.
"Messrs Key and Banks show themselves to be a couple of schoolboy conspirators and they are as inept at intrigue as they are in the leadership of a country that badly needs some inspired leadership."
Police seek diners
Meanwhile, Auckland police want to speak with six people who were in the Urban Café at the time of the pre-election meeting between Key and Banks.
Police believe four women and two men were present in the café while the meeting was taking place.
Two women were seated at tables in the centre of the café; one man was sitting alone at a table, and two women and a man were standing near a window bay.
"We have to take all reasonable and practicable steps to find people and information that will help our inquiries," Detective Senior Sergeant Kevin Hooper said.
Hooper says the six people may unwittingly have information that would assist the inquiry.
He said police were aware of internet postings today of a
recording of the conversation and this will be factored into the
investigation.
