Most of you will be aware that Kim Dotcom was arrested in New Zealand. Charmingly they timed the arrest to happen during his birthday, the police knew this full well but American federal agents just love their shock and awe so the raid was timed that way. There has however been a continuing political wrangle over extradition of Kim Dotcom to the U.S. and whether he was even arrested legally in the first place, time will tell, but in the midst of the ongoing court battles our government (New Zealand) has become embroiled as well).
A bit of background for you. New Zealand has an MMP (Mixed Member Proportional) system of Government, so there isn't just one ruling party, and to gain a majority coalitions between parties are formed. This makes for a wider view point and a more representational parliament (in theory at least). One of the ruling National parties coalition partner's, the Act party's leader, is deeply embroiled in a scandal over donations from Kim Dotcom and it just will not go away.
It seems back when he was trying to become mayor of the new supercity of Auckland (Auckland used to have 6 separate mayoralties - a silly bureaucracy gone mad) he ultimately failed in his bid, but during this bid he met with Kim Dotcom who wished to donate $50,000 to the campaign (a large amount here) John Banks the leader of the Act party said break the donation into two $25,000 cheques which he then wrote down on his campaign forms as anonymous donations.
It has since come out that he knew full well where the money came from, and that it wasn't an anonymous donation at all, his current tack is that he took legal advice that the donations should be described as anonymous.
It also transpires that John Banks interceded on Kim Dotcom's behalf with Maurice Williamson the Minister for Land to see if Kim Dotcom, a foreign national without permanent resident status could purchase a $30million villa in Coatesville against government regulations.
Out of this whole saga at the moment it looks like to ministers of parliament maybe stood down from their posts within the next two weeks, and in all probability with how much skullduggery John Banks has done over the donations scandal he may not be a member of parliament much longer either.
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