Youtube Video: NZ Govt. Formation Gets Underway At Beehive

Monday, 28 November 2011, 5:04 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

From Scoop.co.nz

John Banks Standup - Govt Formation

John Banks stopped and gave a brief standup for media in the basement of the Beehive following his government formation meeting today with Prime Minister John Key. He was not at all keen to discuss the impact of the Tea Pot Tapes affair and said he thought that Winston Peters was already on the rise prior to the controversy arising.

Before the taping began for the video below Mr Banks repeated his oft used comment in relation to the tea pot tape that, "the matter is before the police". Asked whether he had made any complaint himself he said no. Asked whether he thought the matter ought to be pursued by the police now that the election is over he declined to answer.

Maori Party and National Leader John Key

Maori Party co-leaders Pita Sharples and Tariana Turia arriving on the 9th floor of the Beehive to hold a meeting with Prime Minister John Key about post election Government formation. Asked about asset sales Pita Sharples said that his party was opposed to them as stated during the campaign. Tariana Turia got a little lost on her way to the 9th floor and arrived late for the photo opportunity giving the media an unusually long opportunity to question the PM and Dr Sharples. For full video of this photo opportunity see the video below courtesy of interest.co.nz.

Courtesy of Interest.co.nz

INTEREST.CO.NZ : PM Key begins coalition talks with UnitedFuture's Dunne, ACT's Banks and Maori Party's Turia and Sharples; See their policies here
Video and Words By Alex Tarrant

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples says the party’s policy against asset sales would be outside of any confidence and supply agreement with National. The Maori Party does not agree with National’s mixed-ownership policy for 49% sell-downs of four energy State Owned Enterprises, but says if the SOE shares were to be sold, Iwi should be front of the queue for shares. More >>

Earlier the PM spoke to:

Peter Dunne
"First up was UnitedFuture's Peter Dunne, who won the Ohariu seat in Wellington. Dunne has been Minister of Revenue in successive Labour and National governments. UnitedFuture received 0.6% of the general vote on Saturday." More >>

And

John Banks
Next up was ACT’s sole MP John Banks, a former National Party Minister of Police, Tourism and Sport.
Banks said he would push for the philosophy, concepts and principals of the ACT Party to be represented in the government. He joked about becoming Minister of Finance. More >>

ENDS

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Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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