Taxpayer payment ends teapot tapes saga
Prime Minister John Key and journalist Bradley Ambrose have settled over defamation proceedings surrounding the ‘‘teapot tapes’’ of the 2011 election.
The deal involves a cash payment from Key toward costs incurred by Ambrose in the lengthy battle.
Ambrose recorded a private conversation between John Key and former ACT Party leader John Banks at an Auckland cafe a couple of weeks before the 2011 general election.
This became known as the ‘‘teapot tapes’’ saga.
Ambrose has maintained the microphone was left by mistake.
He claimed Key made defamatory comments about him on multiple occasions since the incident, believing Ambrose recorded the conversation on purpose.
The prime minister’s office confirmed a cash payment would be paid to Ambrose as part of the settlement.
‘‘A small payment towards Mr Ambrose’s costs will be made from the parliamentary leader’s budget.
‘‘The exact sum is confidential, but it is a pragmatic payment in the context of what it would have cost to defend in court,’’ a spokeswoman said.
The settlement stops short of Key apologising for comments made about Ambrose but both sides have accepted each other’s explanations.
Earlier yesterday, Ambrose cryptically commented that his cup of tea was tasting more pleasant.
Calls to Ambrose were not immediately answered.
The saga was back in the spotlight earlier this month when former journalist Greg Treadwell started a Givealittle page towards Ambrose’s fight to clear his name.
He said Ambrose needed a total of $38,000 to be able to bring the case to court. ‘‘In the days following the meeting between Hon John Banks and Rt Hon John Key at the Urban Cafe in Newmarket on the 11th of November 2011, Mr Key made a number of comments in the media to the effect that Mr Ambrose had deliberately recorded the conversation between Mr Key and Mr Banks, and compared Mr Ambrose’s conduct to the News of the World. ‘‘These comments caused harm to Mr Ambrose personally and professionally. ‘‘The comments reflected Mr Key’s honestly held views at that time. ‘‘Mr Key and Mr Ambrose have met to discuss the events of that day. Mr Key now accepts that Mr Ambrose did not deliberately record the conversation, or otherwise behave improperly. ‘‘Mr Ambrose now accepts that Mr Key believed that the conversation had been deliberately recorded at the time Mr Key made his statements. ‘‘The proceeding relating to these statements has been settled.’’
It is not yet clear what will happen to the $8000 already donated.