27 Sep 2008 – John Key tells the NZ Herald he is moving ensure that all of his investments “in totality” will be managed by a blind trust and that he is establishing the trust “at the moment”
8 Nov 2008 – New Zealand Elections
14 Nov 2008 – Company called Whitechapel Ltd registered with the Companies Office.
4 Dec 2008 – Key’s shares in Dairy Investment Fund Ltd are transferred to Whitechapel Ltd.
22 Dec 2008 – Key’s shares in vineyard owner, Devils Creek Ltd (now Highwater) transferred to Whitechapel Ltd
16 Jan 2009 – John Key tells the Herald he ‘hasn’t a clue’ where his assets are invested.
30/31 Jan 2009 – John Key speaks at Pinot Noir Celebration in Queenstown and tells visiting UK wine commentator that he owns a vineyard and it’s doing quite well
8 Apr 2009 – John Key’s shares in Earl of Auckland Ltd are transferred into Whitechapel Ltd.
27 May 2009 – Register of MPs Pecuniary Interests 2009 is published showing John Key declared a “blind trust” called Aldgate Trust. He does not declare vineyard or Dairy Investment Fund. He does declare Earl of Auckland Ltd, because Register is as at 31 Jan 2009.
6 Nov 2009 – Name of John Key’s vineyard changes from Devils Creek to Highwater Vineyard
25 Nov 2009 – Highwater Vineyard Ltd lodges application for trademark. On same day Andrew Nugent on John Key’s behalf lodges application to trademark “PM’s Pinot”
Dec 2009 – John Key distributes bottles of wine with Highwater Vineyard on the label
19 May 2010 – Register of MPs Pecuniary Interests 2010 is published showing John Key declared Aldgate Trust and none of the previous New Zealand companies
26 May 2010 – John Key replies to an Oral Parliamentary question saying he doesn’t have a clue where his assets are held. TV3 breaks story of Whitechapel Ltd and how Key can identify his holdings.
27 May 2010 – Breach of privilege complaint lodged with the Speaker
Marty G over at The Standard has done a brilliant post “Key needs to answer questions in Highwatergate”. The plain thrust of his argument:
John Key is claiming no conflicts of interest because he’s unaware of his assets, when “he clearly IS aware of his assets”.
That surely is the crux of the issue! All the rest is smokescreen stuff. I hope all Labour MPs – including Pete Hogdson – will find the time to read it.
Since I’m still trying figure out how to link to other sites, perhaps someone will do the link for me… please…
flutter, flutter
How can I resist a damsel in distress?
http://www.thestandard.org.nz/key-needs-to-answer-questions-in-highwater-gate/
There you go, happy reading everybody
How did I know that Spud would come to my aid…
Spud “Hey they’re just doing their job as opposition”
Serious question – did the Nats ever stoop to gutter politics with Labour while in Opposition re quiet chats to the media, secret recordings, trying to dig up the dirt on Helen (not much since she spent her entire adult life in politics so no chance of conflict of interest there).
The game just seems to be played dirtier these days…..unless someone can refer to me something that indicates the Nats did the same stuff?
I do seem to recall nasty, sexist stuff being said about Helen Clark!
As for dirt digging I’m sure it went on, but hey I don’t care so much about the dirt digging, I care what’s being dug up! 
Really? By the Nats? Perhaps someone will be able to find an article about this…my google searching is pretty amateur.
This surprises me, you have had months of practice!
I have my own work to do.
Naah, been given heaps of stuff over the years and saved a few links as I have come across them (yep, geek I know)…but searching through the archives has a certain technique that I have yet to figure out!
Since my post at 5:46pm, I have seen a Stuff news bulletin which shows that Pete Hodgson has already got the nuts and bolts of the issue sussed. My apologies to him.
Well there was the Bretheren deal mastermined by Joyce, with his reward being a first time Cabinet position.
There was the mantras about nanny state and arrogant and dictator to describe Helen…
As for proof, National has always been much better at covering up than labour…
Ian Wishart is hardly a Labour sympathiser
The MPs will know better than me where stuff comes from but I think trying to give National higher moral ground on dirty politics might be a lost battle.
Consider how long it took Worth to go, and that he was even appointed in the first place given his known history
Brownlee doesnt understand credit card rules, so he can stay and run Energy
Heatley does understand but thought it included holidays for his family, so he left but was invited back
PB breaches Privacy Act when she thinks it’s ok for a fair debate
I guess is it “dirty” politics to expose a PM who tells one story when talking himself up at a schmoozefest and another when a TV camera is on him? One thing is very clear from this term of Govt, John Key runs the show, he speaks on EVERYTHING, from employment to rugby ambassadors (this kind of behaviour was what led to National labelling her arrogant / dictator/ and control freak) – so as he has a finger in every pie politically we need to know who gets favours at his behest. It’s our money…
The tories are just pretending to be clean and tut tut, don’t fool me
Wow this story died much quicker than paintgate…
Yeah it’s creepy how the media didn’t run with it…
The letter from Dr Smith is one sentence long and concludes: “I have determined that no question of privilege is involved”.
I assume that you are going to update the post to add the timeline item that this was thrown out and that there was no question of privilege?
Gee – you guys cant even run a decent smear.
@ spud – here is hoping that they run with the fact that this is yet another allegation (like H fee) that was simply wrong.
Funny isnt it – 165 comments bagging Key and then as soon as he is cleared – nothing at all.