Patrick Gower is on TV telling everyone that there is ‘no king hit’ in the Panama Papers. That suggests an incredible miscomprehension by Mr Gower. The ‘king hit’ is that we are a Tax Haven, Gower’s inability to understand anything that can’t be splurged out in a 30 second sound bite is a limitation we shouldn’t allow cloud our vision of what the Panama Papers have shown us.
And what is it that they’ve shown us?
That we are a tax haven, and it’s a tax haven that John Key himself helped build.
Key personally intervened to change the law in 2010 that made the tax rate for foreign trusts zero.
Key has on numerous occasions told the media he wants NZ to be the Switzerland of the Pacific.
Key was told at least 7 times our foreign trusts made us a tax haven.
Key’s personal lawyer, who also makes money from creating Foreign Trusts, contacted the Revenue Minister in 2014, used Key’s name to suggest there should be no planned IRD crackdown and lo and behold there is no IRD crackdown.
Key then appoints a tax wonk to make some wonky jargon infused noise and get it out of the headlines.
Gower doesn’t get it because Gower is only good at chasing cars, even when those cars are parked.
Key doesn’t get it for a different reason.
He’s a money trader who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. The indignant outrage many NZers who face annual torture from the IRD feel watching the rich and powerful simply walk away from the social contract is a rage Key doesn’t have the emotional intelligence to comprehend. For him it is completely rational that the rich simply arrange their affairs to escape the scrutiny or tax liability everyone else is forced to rigidly comply with.
That’s why Key has been so flat footed on this and always ends up completely reversing the stance he’s taken in the morning by that afternoon. His gut tells him this is all fine, what are the plebs complaining about now.
It’s not the first time our PMs psychopathic inability to comprehend empathy and sympathy has raised its head. His stubborn malice to not lift the refugee quota. His utter inability to understand the offence taken for screaming Labour supported rapists. His toxic response to journalists, all suggest that this a man who isn’t weighed down by philosophy or ethics and is either surprised or furious when he encounters it.
What the Panama Papers show is that we are a tax haven and that Key has helped create the environment for us to be a fully fledged tax haven. The counter spin by those bitter media who weren’t granted the early access that TVNZ, RNZ + Nicky Hager were is remarkable.
Watch last nights Waatea 5th Estate to get a much fuller picture than is being provided by commercial media on this very important story.
This may be a question Frank can answer
What is the time line for these things?
Who set them up in the first place, was it Cullen?
In no way do I want to be seen supporting Key … but??
Or was it originally set up by whoever in the last National Govt?
Just asking the question, who, when, where, and how?
If the IRD wanted to look at the laws, they must have been setup already, when did that happen?
And one more obvious question. Does the NZ trust industries and there clients pay the correct amount of tax?
Stil no ‘king hit’, still can’t get Key with anything and only ‘guilty’ by association eh?, like Little with the Keytruda reps at a lunch and he couldn’t remember any talk of Keytruda and a day later he says his party would fund it. Still clutching at straws i see Martyn and gettng more and more desperate it seems.
Oh look, a National Party sycophant attempting a clumsy bit of deflection…
And no answer to a single point Martyn has raised. Speaks volumes for you doesn’t it, Imright?
Deflect, deflect, deflect.
If you are going to do that, try to make a better job of it instead of that pathetic effort.
Take it easy on him Frank after all,
the P.M. has stated he only associates with those of the highest standards. His lawyer (set up a blind trust described by a High Court judge as a “sham” for a bankrupt property developer), Cameron Slater( diversion ordered today after himself admitted hiring someone to illegally access the computer files of opponents, etc etc
John Key appears to be a fine judge of character and I’m Rights support of Key reflects how they see trusts as they should be “Tax evasion”
Hi Frank,
I have always rated you. But after reading the most recent blogs I think you guys are on another planet. This blog is so far left it makes the NZ Labour Party (excluding Little) look like an extreme right wing party.
There are a few other bloggers on TDB whom I also rate but much of the content presented is, if not exaggerated, bordering on the ridiculous.
Take care and thanks for the detailed and comprehensive posts – I have not always agreed with your conclusions but anything posted has always been well supported with references.
Hi Frank,
I have always rated you. But after reading the most recent blogs I think you guys are on another planet. This blog is so far left it makes the NZ Labour Party (excluding Little) look like an extreme right wing party.
There are a few other bloggers on TDB whom I also rate but much of the content presented is, if not exaggerated, bordering on the ridiculous.
Take care and thanks for the detailed and company rehensive posts – I have not always agreed with your conclusions but anything posted has always been well supported with references.
So, Grant of Wellington, let’s get back to the issue of tax evasion, tax havens, foreign trusts, and other such activities.
Where do you stand on such issues? Do you think it’s ok to rort the tax system of another country, thereby depriving them of much needed funds for their health system, education, housing, public transport, welfare, etc?
Do you?
Yep… Bradbury is like a jockey, flogging a horse that has collapsed and died just before the finish line, in a desperate hope that it will somehow miraculously Get across.
So where is Jason Eade hiding these days? Oh that’s right:
Jason Ede has resigned following 11 years with the National party in the wake of the Dirty Politics scandal. ..
Sadly Key is flogging the whole country.
Regardless, Key flogged a dead flag and will be known in history as our worst P.M.
Hey, Shane, if you’re going to talk about dead things, Key’s lawyer lied about having no links to Mossack Fonsecca. Got anything to say about that?
You say this as if believing in National’s neoliberal trickledown bullshit isn’t also a classic example of not just flogging the dead horse, but also trying to rape the corpse thereafter. Did Labour screw up by allowing Rogernomics? Absolutely – But they learned from the mistake. National, however, are dead-set on repeating the mistake again and again. If anyone is a fool in hoping for miracles, it is those who continue to support the worn-out fallacy that a deregulated, free-market, hands-off approach will somehow provide a fair and proper playing field for all, and that those who are left behind are so as a result of their choices. Absolute bullshit pours from the spouts of National’s policy keg, and the masses all hail it as the finest brew ever, of which they’d love to share a glass with dear leader. A sad, pathetic case of Stockholm Syndrome is what it really is.
Imright, that was a pathetic attempt at deflection.
No one is talking about “king hits” except Gower and tighty-righties, Imright.
And your attempt to deflect is fairly tragic.
What next, blame it on beneficiaries?
First “king hit”, ImNotRight is that Key’s lawyer LIED about having no connection to Mossack Fonseca.
13 April
“Key said he checked with Whitney whether there were any links to Mossack Fonseca “for obvious reasons” because “I have to look down the barrel of the camera and make sure everything’s right. ” http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/78892068/John-Key-assures-the-public-he-is-not-linked-to-the-Panama-Papers-scandal
10 May
“The prime minister is unconcerned about new revelations his advisor Ken Whitney has connections to Mossack Fonseca, saying he was happy with previous assurances he had been given.” http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/panama-papers/303482/pm-brushes-off-whitney's-mossack-fonseca-link
I really think this will impact on Key more than people realise.
UNBELIEVABLE, KEY MUST BE A DEAD MAN WALKING HE JUST DOESNT REALISE HE HAS NO SOUL, HEART OR CONCOIENCE AT ALL, BUT ACTS JUST LIKE AN ANDROID!!!!
RNZ yesterday says;The Prime Minister has reiterated his view New Zealand is not a tax haven
So Key doesn’t believe NZ is being sold as a tax haven even after the evidence showed the various companies here in NZ and elsewhere in glossy pamphlets were saying NZ was a safe place to keep secret funding company assets with low or no taxes????
http://www.irishtimes.com/business/panama-papers-full-database-revealing-thousands-of-secret-offshore-companies-published-1.2641012
Panama Papers: Full database revealing thousands of secret offshore companies published
Searchable database displays more than 200,000 entities from the Panama Papers
about 3 hours ago Updated: about 2 hours ago
Marina Walker Guevara
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The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) tonight publishes a searchable database (https://offshoreleaks.icij.org) that strips away the secrecy of nearly 214,000 offshore entities created in 21 jurisdictions, from Nevada to Hong Kong and the British Virgin Islands.
The data, part of the Panama Papers investigation, is the largest ever release of information about offshore companies and the people behind them. This includes, when available, the names of the real owners of those opaque structures.
The database also displays information about more than 100,000 additional offshore entities the ICIJ had already disclosed in its 2013 Offshore Leaks investigation.
Panama Papers database clearly implicates NZ as a tax Haven now!!!
Key said this yesterday;
New Zealand is the ‘wrong place to be secret’, John Key says
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/panama-papers/303380/nz-'wrong-place-to-be-secret'-pm
10:28 pm on 9 May 2016
Panama Papers NZ – The Prime Minister has reiterated his view New Zealand is not a tax haven when questioned about the latest Panama Papers revelations in Parliament today.
Interesting observation…
The Panama Papers underscore the fundamental injustices and inequalities created by the offshore system, media commentators and political leaders say.
“When taxes are evaded, when state assets are taken and put into these havens, all of these things can have a tremendous negative effect on our mission to end poverty and boost prosperity,”
These leaches are destroying our future and our children’s and we should punished them all and keep a file of those who protest against the rort of our country by these maggots.
http://www.irishtimes.com/business/panama-papers-full-database-revealing-thousands-of-secret-offshore-companies-published-1.2641012
The Prime Minister’s lawyer Ken Whitney had links to two of the companies connected to “Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca, one of the world’s top creators of hard-to-trace companies, trusts and foundations.”
I came to the same conclusion.
Those left at MediaWorks(ForSome) seem to be bitter about having been left out of a special teamwork operation between TVNZ, RNZ and also Nicky Hager, with support from the ICIJ.
Suddenly some info was made available to the publicly owned and public conscience defending Nicky Hager, which MediaWorks and TV3 had no access to.
Oh, when Paddy gets angry, he does get angry and can be nasty.
Hence his dismissive BS comments, in unison with Paul Henry.
P.S.:
How are you getting on with the Ombudsman, Frank?
I know of people who are still left waiting and getting little help, even after the appointment of that new Chief Ombudsman.
John Key is dragging us down into the moral and ethical gutter he lives in. And collectively the National Party and it’s supporter’s are comfortable with that.
@ XRAY … and FJK is comfortable with his lawyer and financial advisor, “highly ethical” Ken Whitney having close connections to Mossack Fonsecca!
No doubt, it’s no probs there bro!
We’ll see!
More than the ditching of Campbell Live, more than the introduction of New shrub, more than the reality drivel, – it was Patrick Gower that drove me away from TV3. And keeps me away.
I think John Key fits the description of a “sociopath” more than “psychopath”. The following definition is long but very apt.
10 signs for spotting a sociopath
#1) Sociopaths are charming. Sociopaths have high charisma and tend to attract a following just because people want to be around them. They have a “glow” about them that attracts people who typically seek guidance or direction. They often appear to be sexy or have a strong sexual attraction. Not all sexy people are sociopaths, obviously, but watch out for over-the-top sexual appetites and weird fetishes.
#2) Sociopaths are more spontaneous and intense than other people. They tend to do bizarre, sometimes erratic things that most regular people wouldn’t do. They are unbound by normal social contracts. Their behavior often seems irrational or extremely risky.
#3) Sociopaths are incapable of feeling shame, guilt or remorse. Their brains simply lack the circuitry to process such emotions. This allows them to betray people, threaten people or harm people without giving it a second thought. They pursue any action that serves their own self interest even if it seriously harms others. This is why you will find many very “successful” sociopaths in high levels of government, in any nation.
#4) Sociopaths invent outrageous lies about their experiences. They wildly exaggerate things to the point of absurdity, but when they describe it to you in a storytelling format, for some reason it sounds believable at the time.
#5) Sociopaths seek to dominate others and “win” at all costs. They hate to lose any argument or fight and will viciously defend their web of lies, even to the point of logical absurdity.
#6) Sociopaths tend to be highly intelligent, but they use their brainpower to deceive others rather than empower them. Their high IQs often makes them dangerous. This is why many of the best-known serial killers who successfully evaded law enforcement were sociopaths.
#7) Sociopaths are incapable of love and are entirely self-serving. They may feign love or compassion in order to get what they want, but they don’t actually FEEL love in the way that you or I do.
#8) Sociopaths speak poetically. They are master wordsmiths, able to deliver a running “stream of consciousness” monologue that is both intriguing and hypnotic. They are expert storytellers and even poets.
#9) Sociopaths never apologize. They are never wrong. They never feel guilt. They can never apologize. Even if shown proof that they were wrong, they will refuse to apologize and instead go on the attack.
#10) Sociopaths are delusional and literally believe that what they say becomes truth merely because they say it!
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/036112_sociopaths_cults_influence.html#ixzz48C82eT34
I think John Key fits the description of a “sociopath” more than “psychopath”. The following definition is long but very apt.
10 signs for spotting a sociopath
#1) Sociopaths are charming. Sociopaths have high charisma and tend to attract a following just because people want to be around them. They have a “glow” about them that attracts people who typically seek guidance or direction. They often appear to be sexy or have a strong sexual attraction. Not all sexy people are sociopaths, obviously, but watch out for over-the-top sexual appetites and weird fetishes.
#2) Sociopaths are more spontaneous and intense than other people. They tend to do bizarre, sometimes erratic things that most regular people wouldn’t do. They are unbound by normal social contracts. Their behavior often seems irrational or extremely risky.
#3) Sociopaths are incapable of feeling shame, guilt or remorse. Their brains simply lack the circuitry to process such emotions. This allows them to betray people, threaten people or harm people without giving it a second thought. They pursue any action that serves their own self interest even if it seriously harms others. This is why you will find many very “successful” sociopaths in high levels of government, in any nation.
#4) Sociopaths invent outrageous lies about their experiences. They wildly exaggerate things to the point of absurdity, but when they describe it to you in a storytelling format, for some reason it sounds believable at the time.
#5) Sociopaths seek to dominate others and “win” at all costs. They hate to lose any argument or fight and will viciously defend their web of lies, even to the point of logical absurdity.
#6) Sociopaths tend to be highly intelligent, but they use their brainpower to deceive others rather than empower them. Their high IQs often makes them dangerous. This is why many of the best-known serial killers who successfully evaded law enforcement were sociopaths.
#7) Sociopaths are incapable of love and are entirely self-serving. They may feign love or compassion in order to get what they want, but they don’t actually FEEL love in the way that you or I do.
#8) Sociopaths speak poetically. They are master wordsmiths, able to deliver a running “stream of consciousness” monologue that is both intriguing and hypnotic. They are expert storytellers and even poets.
#9) Sociopaths never apologize. They are never wrong. They never feel guilt. They can never apologize. Even if shown proof that they were wrong, they will refuse to apologize and instead go on the attack.
#10) Sociopaths are delusional and literally believe that what they say becomes truth merely because they say it!
Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/036112_sociopaths_cults_influence.html#ixzz48C82eT34
They have not had a ‘hit’ on Key or the Govt Frank. Lets face it the ideal scenario would be Key has his money tucked away in a foreign trust from Monseca…MISS!
The Govt (and or Key) had set up something for the National Party in trusts…MISS!
The word ‘Illegal’ under the law as it stands, for any trusts uncovered with a NZ link….MISS!
Looks like ‘The Moment Of Truth’ unveiling is even more of a damp squib than .Com fiasco before last election. You lefties can get off your knees from all that praying as no-one is listening to you as the voting public are fast losing interest. I see that Shaw this morning said it could take months to go through the data, how do you think the voters (well the vast majority that are not far left conspiracy theorists) will take notice when some link from some nobody ‘proves’ it’s happening in NZ…they will care not a jot!
Lol!…heres one or two for you…
Criminal proceeds moved on from LTC’s /shell co’s to major bank and laundered …Bullseye !
Corporate profits moved into LTC’S using shell co’s then retrieved because they have been taxed in NZ…at zero rate…. Bullseye!
Company deny’s social contract with country of origins govt and people denying funding for social infrastructure using tax evasion trusts in NZ… Bullseye !
NZ govt appointee to tax loopholes caught out as advising south pacific island nation on how to create tax haven…. Bullseye !
The fact that your worst fears – that Key might have been implicated – changes nothing in regards that all these things and more have been happening under Keys watch. And you may do well to be reminded that even though the Winebox inquiry was whitewashed here it was because of that that tax laws were introduced to prevent Kiwi’s from utilizing that scam.
Despite the fact that the final conclusion was that it was ‘ legal’ but found to be unethical and a ‘ grey ‘ area of the law.
You see … what you right wing fanatics continually ( and deliberately ) miss the point in , -is that this is not and never was intended as a global beat up on Key – but exposure of worldwide corruption and abuse of the social contract of an individuals or an entity’s paying their fair share of tax.
18 Trillion by conservative estimates.
That’s 18 trillion …around the total wealth of the USA or thereabouts…
Which results in the death of millions in :
1) Lack of funds of medical resources
2) Loss of funds in regional development and scientific research
3) Channeling of finds to illicit arms dealing
4) Aiding and abetting terrorist organisations
5) Lack of funding for govt social welfare programs
I’m sure you get the picture… even if it has to have been spelt out to you. And if you can get past your childish tit for tat mentality and see what this really about you will also start to see any govt that supports that is complicit in enabling those examples to carry on willfully.
Go away and have a little think about it, please.
Imright, it’s not meant to be a “hit” on Key. That’s YOUR spin. You’re setting up straw-men and then “missing” them? That is laughable.
The Panamas Papers are meant to pull aside the secrecy and show us what lurks in the shadowy world of tax havens, and how NZ has been party to these events.
If tax havens are ok, why are they conducted in utter secrecy? That is something you and your fellow Righties can’t answer.
Imright, your “misses” are of your own delusional making. You’re the one raising these straw arguments.
Meanwhile, our international reputation is being shredded and you don’t seem to care about that. Why is that, mate? Do you, by any chance, have an interest in a foreign trust???
But here is one hit: Key’s lawyer LIED about not having any links to Mossack. What’s your deflection on that?
You righties have the morals of gutter rats.
Imright – it now appears that Key has been wrong in his assertions on Greenpece, Red Cross, and Amnesty International; http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/201800247/greenpeace-rejects-foreign-trust-link
What other lies has Key been saying?
Or do you think it’s ok for Key to be slandering charities and other groups?
There is no doubt that there will be some trusts that have been set up for illegal,purposes. However most operate quite legally and many Kiwis will have these. There are thousands and thousands of trusts used to protect people’s wealth. If I thought NZ was not a good place to have my money I would definitely have it elsewhere. As for damaging NZ’s business reputation I don’t think it will make a jot of difference. The way the world works these days corruption is not a factor in business, to the contrary, it is rife.
Oh … no doubt our domestic trusts are reasonably secure and above the board.
And let us not forget that it was a result of the Winebox inquiry in part that helped to make them so. Even though it was found that NZ participants in the Cook Island scam were found to have not broken the law per se but to have operated ‘ unethically’ and in a ‘grey ‘ area.
But that is not the current issue.
It is the use of a system that vets these foreign trusts … declaring them as being taxed – by zero tax – that is partly the issue. This means that same money can be repatriated at the point of its original origin having been declared as having been ‘ taxed’.
Secondly , it is the ability for criminal elements to take full advantage of the lack of transparency and inability for govt scrutiny ie: IRD to ascertain just who owns them , what the business is conducting ( if its legal or not ) and to use LTC’s /shell company’s to then move that cash on to a major bank – thus laundering the cash.
And the onus is on the incumbent govt to ensure that there is adequate mechanisms to prevent illicit practice by trust manipulating. That is the issue here – that up until the Panama Papers had forced its hand – this govt turned a blind eye to the situation. Contributing to an estimated 18 Trillion in loss of revenues globally.
These and other reasons are why the Australian Financial Review made mention of NZ’ foreign trust laws. As did the OECD… that this country appeared as if it was functioning as a tax haven.
Righton, it will indeed make a great deal of difference if New Zealand is seen to be party to tax havens and tax avoidance/evasion schemes. This is something you and others seem to be (deliberately?) overlooking.
The difference between NZ and overseas trusts is that New Zealanders pay 33% tax on their Trust incomes. Foreign trusts pay nothing, they are zero-rated.
Righton, if those foreign trusts are so legitimate, why are they SECRET?????
Nothing to hide, nothing to fear, isn’t that what you righties keep insisting???
Seems to me that the reason those trusts are secret is because they have a hell of a lot to hide. Fairly bloody obvious, I would’ve thought!!
Righton; “As for damaging NZ’s business reputation I don’t think it will make a jot of difference.”
Others disagree with you,
“By the end of November last year the increased demand for New Zealand trusts had become huge. Among the various issues were the involvement of Ruben Goldberg Javkin who formerly headed Mexico’s Republic National Bank and who was reorganising his affairs through his NZ Midtown trust.
As the AFR notes: New Zealand’s readiness not to tax foreign income of its 12,000-odd foreign trusts is not philanthropy. Its thriving trust sector does well enough out of the exchange from the fees it charges.
The question, given the damage such controversies may inflict on New Zealand’s name and its reputation for probity and transparency, is whether the exchange is worth the cost.” http://www.lawfuel.com/newzealand/growing-tax-scandal-tarnishes-new-zealands-reputation/
its embarrassing for a allegedly credible journo to even USE the phrase “king hit”
whats next is the PM going to “bash” the criticism around this ?
I don’t think RNZ gets it either after listening to yesterday’s and this morning’s programmes. They seem to be wallowing in and crowing about the fact that they are conducting an investigation into the Panama Papers along with Nicky Hager yet Kathryn Ryan – the all-singing, all-dancing patriotic cheerleader for NZ Inc was yesterday desperately trying to goal-keep for the NZ/National Government.This morning it was Andrew Little getting beaten up by Guyon Epsiner.
Well… you will be seeing more of this as media ‘jockeys for a position ‘ on this. Flip flops, he said – she said … as each tries to be seen on the right side of public opinion . Instead of calling it what it is . Tax evasion enabling by disassociation.
Gower would have been spitting tacks that TV1, Radio NZ and Nicky Hager got together to do some real investigative journalism into the Panama Papers and decided to leave him completely out of it. No doubt he’s also feeling extremely threatened now that the main cheerleader for his garrulous tabloid style of journalism, Mark Weldon, has been given the boot from Mediaworks.
Clearly it’s not a king hit or Key would be forced out, as was the PM of Iceland.
Gower isn’t really a journalist, so he doesn’t deal with actual issues. He’s a muckraker who can’t see past the ‘game’ of politics.
If Key got lynched (politically speaking of course) Gower would be the first to gloat and sensationalise.
You give him too much credit to posit that he actually cares enough about anything other than scandal.
In common with most of these right wing fanatics… all they see in this is their blind religious zeal for John Key. This why they keep attempting to frame the context as a ‘ beat up’ on John Key. Whereas in fact .. they have incriminated themselves totally by trying to use the argument :
This is ‘ World famous only in New Zealand’.
The Panama Papers are a GLOBAL phenomena .
It is incredibly ego centric to try and relegate this as a purely local issue. The fact that a PM of Iceland has walked and that scores of inquiry’s are now currently underway , That the PM of the UK and other leaders have been implicated with the release of the Panama Papers is testimony in off itself how far reaching this is.
These fanatical right wing defenders of this govt and its leaders seek to relegate this issue to a mere blip in history by stating because it didn’t directly involve Key it is a non event.
Rubbish.
What these Panama Papers demonstrate and expose is the extent of tax evasion globally , just where 18 Trillion dollars went that is missing in the global coffers and just who and what govt’s were complicit in enabling it to go missing.
And that means any individual or govt that has had a hand in this. The myopia of these far right fanatics in being only interested if it does or does not directly implicate Key is irrelevant.
The world is much , much larger than John Key and they know it. Key is just another cog in the machine.
Key gets it alright , hes just deflecting ,denying , blaming and playing for time to “forget”and hide his involvement,hes probably got people trying like mad to put a legal spin on his crooked games.
Key is probably one of the clients of Mossack Fonseca and probably making a nice profit by hosting tax haven.
How he can claim NZ is not a tax haven when all the evidence says it is .
The issue isn’t if Key does or doesn’t have direct and detectable vested interests in this issue…
The issue is ‘ has Key deliberately or inadvertently by omission enabled criminal activity or tax evasion by the loopholes that have been exploited in our foreign trust laws ‘ .
If so…what then is the benefits to NZ ?.
Seems to be quite a few sociopaths in the form of National trolls on this site today.
Patrick Gower you say Martyn, chases cars,we had a dog who did that many years ago, he chased a bus one day and the bus won.
There are so many doubts and complaints of this PM,one day he will trip up , hope its soon .
We can already more or less wave the ‘Panama Papers’ good bye, dear friends, that is unless some new revelations will drag in New Zealand based trusts to direct criminal activity, that means tax evasion, money laundering or something of that kind.
This will only be proved if any person administering such trusts here, or acting as an agent for any trust or law firms such as Mossack Fonsecca, has broken rules, or if persons that benefited or benefit from such a foreign owned, New Zealand based trust, are found guilty of a crime overseas, and thus also having misled the local parties involved.
But as this is nothing New Zealand and the government has control over, there will be little consequences for Key and his gang.
His “former lawyer” (now “consultant”) Whitney has apparently been involved with Mossack Fonsecca, at least indirectly, so that is something to follow.
All else will not interest the MSM much, nor will it many in the public, I think.
Having forced myself to watch TV One’s ‘breakfast’ and Paul Henry again this morning, I was shocked at the level of silliness, shallowness and triviality of stuff that was presented. And Paul Henry, together with Paddy Gower, have already dismissed the Panama Papers as largely being irrelevant to New Zealand, so there is nothing to see, just move on, is their message.
A ‘King Hit’ is just the kind of nonsense the media mercenaries are looking for, as they have lost all resources, skills and capabilities to research complex stuff (which Nicky Hager still does), and the Panama Papers are simply complex and detailed information that needs a lot of time, effort and intelligence for anyone to work through.
It is far easier to simply focus on traffic, the weather, crime, on at times beneficiary bashing, on entertainment, infotainment and the latest social media “trend”, and that is what they are back at doing.
And as the unethical tax avoidance and wealth hiding is due to the existing, created and defended practices simply not considered being illegal, there is nothing the law enforcement agencies will bother doing. Last not least, they will not want to upset the rich and famous, and those from countries we do trade with, as leaving them alone will mean, business as usual.
Key knows all this, so he will do a bit of face saving law changes, but damned little else. The trust industry and their clientele will adjust and learn, invent and use new methods and vehicles, and all will just carry on as it has for decades.
Well… I can see your pessimistic outlook ….as can a huge amount of New Zealanders but the fact remains ….
If hypothetically ,… if even one of these un-monitored foreign trusts was found to be guilty of hiding a child pornography ring and human trafficking due to this govt’s oblique consent to secrecy , – which inhibited or otherwise hindered Interpol or the New Zealand Police from pressing charges and freezing assets and pecuniary gain from the proceeds of crime….
Would the NZ public come out in full support of the incumbent govt?
I think not.
AND THIS…. is where ethics, values and morals ACTUALLY DO HAVE a part to play in deciding what govt we choose to have.
And I know I have the backing of the majority of New Zealanders here.
I am afraid that with the largely useless media we now have, we would not even learn about such scandals, should they surface.
Anything that may harm Key and the government is just too sensitive to report on, it seems, so most steer right away from critical reporting and commenting.
By the way, when was there last news on the Panama Papers on our leading TV or radio news channels? It has become mighty silent over the last few days, and other topics are back in the forefront.
Crime, drunkenness of youth, weather, sports and celeb news are the common fare, nothing too difficult and sensitive, easy to take and report on.
donKEY created the tax haven conditions so he and his mates could use it to hide their wealth. Whether it is legal or not doesn’t change my view of him. HE IS A WHITE COLLAR CRIMINAL. His personal finances should be dragged into the public arena because he is a public figure who is in a position of trust. If he is shown to be honest I’ll be the first to apologise. If he is guilty them SEND HIM TO PRISON FOR CRIMES AGAINST NEW ZEALAND!!!
ELLE: So just because we disagree with your view, we’re sociopaths?
That’s typical of the hard left
You may not be a ‘ sociopath ‘ but you certainly do bear the marks of the right wing fanatic. You are a self professed myopic lunatic of the far right.
That is self evident in the weak and spurious arguments constantly used to give credence to your almost religiously ‘ zealots ‘ – like Key centric world view.
I put to you this and to members of the New Zealand public this question :
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
1) How many would be comfortable in the fact that currently our foreign trust laws could potentially be enabled to accommodate child pornography and human trafficking rings to flourish with total impunity and to continue to reap the benefits of their perverted industry unfettered from the NZ public’s scrutiny ?
2) How many of you would be comfortable in the fact that Interpol or the NZ Police would be hampered in their attempts to bring charges because our current foreign trust laws did not disclose the true nature of the business or who the true directors/benefactors of the trust were ?
………………………………………………………………………………………..
And as many have said so far – this is not about the left or the right. It is about a govt of integrity, transparency and ethics.
Something by which you on the fanatical far right can only view through the prism of whether it affects the immediate credibility and thus your loyalty’s to your idol John Key or not.
Thus making your very arguments irrelevant and inconsequential.
Do you like corruption?
Andrew, not all the right are sociopaths. But judging from much of the rubbish you’ve posted here, I often suspect you qualify. Your diatribes against beneficiaries, Maori, and solo-mums is crude, offensive stuff. Only a sociopath would hold the views you do.
Little has handled this appallingly, an absolute diddle, running down NZ for political gain only, when there is minimal substance to the allegations at best. Labour need a new leader desperately, we all want an effective opposition, not an absolute muppet in the role,what ever ones political views.
I see you are caving in to the pressure that is now coming to bear on whether this is an issue of either the right or left of New Zealand politics. It was only a matter of time that that pressure would force you right wing fanatical supporters of the Key led govt to concede and soften in a total about face…
You have been outed.
Without even a shot being fired in Keys direction.
And in your chagrin and frustrated attempt’s to relegate this global Pandora’s box called the Panama Papers into a local issue in which you felt comfortable to vindicate and exploit in support of your idol John Key you have come adrift from public sentiment.
I therefore put it to you and members of the NZ public this question :
………………………………………………………………………………………..
1) How many of you would be comfortable in the fact that currently our foreign trust laws could potentially enable child pornography and human trafficking rings to flourish with total impunity and to continue to reap the benefits of their perverted industry unfettered from public scrutiny ?
2) How many of you would be comfortable in the fact that Interpol or the NZ Police would be hampered in their attempts to bring charges because our current foreign trust laws did not disclose the true nature of the business or who the true directors of the trust were ?
………………………………………………………………………………………..
Answer that in defense of your idol if you may. Try you utmost hardest. We invite you to.
You may be certain that you cannot.
And if even you try to use the defense of … ” but those situations haven’t been found to exist yet ”….
You may be certain that the loopholes existing that were enabled by this Key led govt most certainly do exist for that scenario to be a reality.
Your blind idol worship leaves us all cold.
And you without answers or defense.
“running down NZ for political gain only”
Nah. Key does that all by himself.
Dave, “Little has handled this appallingly, an absolute diddle, running down NZ for political gain only, when there is minimal substance to the allegations at best.”
Nothing to see here, move along. Is that the best you can do, Dave? Especially when it seems that Key’s lawyer LIED when he reassured our dear leader that he had no connections to Mossack Fonseca??
Contrary to your claims, there is quite a bit of substance to allegations, and they keep coming out every day. We may be in for an early election!!
Mr Kenneth (aka “Ken”) Whitney, “lawyer”, “former lawyer” or “consultant” of one “Right Honourable John Key”:
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11634155
LinkedIn information on the man:
https://nz.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-whitney-b5956a3b
“Experience
Convenor
Combined Community Trusts of New Zealand
2013 – Present (3 years)
Chair
ASB Community Trust
2011 – Present (5 years)
Director
Rothschild Trust New Zealand Limited
April 2004 – Present (12 years 2 months)
Executive Director
Antipodes Trust Group Limited
June 1993 – Present (23 years)
As Executive Director of ATGL I manage all client introductions, service proposals, trust establishment, management, and distributions. I oversee investment policy, implementation and monitoring and management of staff to maintain accounts and report to clients.
Partner
Ross & Whitney
January 1992 – Present (24 years 5 months)”
“Summary
My skills and expertise are in property and trust law generally but more recently focusing on trust management services for New Zealand and international clients. My skills are in finding solutions for clients that are cost effective and create long term value. I have specialist legal knowledge of trust law and am discreet, professional and of high integrity. I have good inter-personal skills and my business is primarily based on long term relationships. I am also fully conversant with portfolio investment theory and practice, being on a number of trustee investment committees for clients. I am also interested in philanthropy and am a trustee of two charitable trusts. I am a good strategic thinker and am good at managing people to get results and continuous improvement to best practice.”
Todays revelation, after Mr Key claimed days ago, he (Whitney) had NO connections to Mossack Fonseca:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/79801529/panama-papers-keys-former-lawyer-has-further-mossack-fonseca-links
“Panama Papers: Latest Panama Papers revelations not troubling Key”
“RNZ reported that John Key’s long-time lawyer Ken Whitney had links to two companies registered in the British Virgin Islands with Mossack Fonseca as their agent.
Whitney was among a group of five law firms that lobbied then-Revenue Minister Todd McClay in 2014 against any foreign trust changes
Whitney was a director of the Rothschild Trust (NZ) Limited, which was the owner and the director of two companies registered in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Capewood Investments and Exchange Securities, that had Mossack Fonseca as their agent, RNZ reported.”
What an “honourable man”!?
IF you want to know the extent of John Keys money making corruption ,and the panama paper are a drop in the ocean compared to it. !Go to todays Wake up New Zealand and read the link . “Is John Key insider trading with our money “. its a long article but it tells all about his tricks since before he came to NZ and became our PM, The extent of his corruption is mind boggling.Key says the government dosnt owe the huge debt, the public does, but he incurred the debts deliberately and tells why.
IT WOULD MAKE YOU PUT YOUR HEAD ON THE TABLE IN DESPAIR.
Martyn you havnt printed the things ive mentioned for a long time,but this is a must read.
Yes,… perhaps Martyn you should.
And why not?…
It is true that the main thrust of the Panama Papers are of a global nature , … however it is also true that anything global breaks down into regional, then national then local proportions.
It is then we see the connections and relevance between political party’s and its elected representatives…and their part to play in such global events as the Panama Papers.
A panoramic expose’ would certainly not go amiss with all this talk of investigative journalism and holding the powerful to account.
So forgive me if I am a bit slow on this Panama Papers business but is John Key saying it is okay for New Zealand to be used to protect from taxes and safeguard the wealth accumulated by some the 1% while the 99% are left to either struggle or be glued to the work treadmill and pay taxes?
Does John Key know how to spell the word integrity and has our media sunk so low that nothing in the dark grey area surprises it?
I can recall,around 15 years ago talk of Auckland lawyers and accountants,who!s only clients where off shore and setting up dodgy accounts for the purpose of tax evasion.
Evasion,is a excellent word for the purpose of what i and others understand as the truth,that N.Z.has been a safe unquestioning tax haven for the unscrupulous exploiter capitalist class,and of course the odd dictator.
Evasion or Avoidance,one legal the other not,the latter is Key,and his capitalist cronies stance on this.N.z. is not a tax haven,it has legal binding agreements with our taxation structure,that allows off shore people and corporations, to set up non taxation money Trusts.
Jonny Donkey’s lawyer is a tax haven agent. In the shadows – hidden behind secret off shore blind trusts ugliness goes on beyond tax evasion.
Arms deals ; paedophile rings ; war crimes ; drug trafficking ; rape ; child abuse etc.
Blood on Donkeys hands. Lies spewing from his mouth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6XnH_OnpO0&feature=youtu.be
Full Enquiry Full Enquiry —– Get rid of bad garbage
Has John Key ever been audited by IRD ,could they not get access to his hidden trusts ,the one he says he dosnt know whats in it, and how much wealth is involved
I read this today:
‘Doe offers a general critique of secretive finance capitalism, and cites specifics from the Panama Papers showing that Mossack-Fonseca wasn’t just involved in helping the wealthy avoid taxes and starve countries of the treasure they needed to provide the most basic services — they also knowingly laundered money used by rich paedophiles to traffick in 13 year old sex slaves.
Doe isn’t content to discuss their general grievances with corruption: in laser-focused specific detail, they cite policies and actions from specific governments and politicians (the UK Conservative party, David Cameron, NZ Prime Minister John Key, a few others) and how their hypocrisy motivated them to act.’
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article44617.htm
This matter is of global interest and the chattering of silly men like Patrick Gower are irrelevant.
I guess it’s easy for you not to worry about all those children in other countries ‘going without’, John, – you’ve had plenty of practice at home. Hate to say it but – scum of the earth.
Doe lands killer blow on Dough…..they just haven’t clocked yet.
Those who think Little did a good job with this clearly did not see his response to a question put to him on TV3 news last night. There is nothing to see here, and in 1 months time everyone will have forgotten about it anyway. What I do not understand is the left and its refusal to take on the serious issues, like the report on overseas people buying houses in NZ and its lack of proper fact gathering. An excellent story to pursue yet the left enter some wankfest about the Panama papers which are a dead duck. Get real, and do something that may actually help New Zealanders, and perhaps get a leader who can communicate.
Oh yeah, the Kiwis care about their homes and cars, and little else, perhaps also for the school their kids go to, but really not much else, that is true.
While media all over the world take this more seriously, you are right, Kiwis simply do not care, whether rich and filthily rich hide there money here in NZ foreign owned trusts, they do also not care (in their majority) about refugees, whether they come from Syria or elsewhere, they do not care about human rights of NZers living in Australia, they do not really care much about climate change, or a US warship steaming into our port in November, they are really only concerned about getting their foot into the door to own their own home and ideally one extra one for “investment” for their retirement.
Thank you for reminding us about the shallowness of too many in this little country where “revolution” is a word only understood in terms of a turning wheel on a car with a tyre on.
Sleepy hobbits galore, that is what I conclude.
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