If you haven't seen it, watch the two videos about John Key's rail shars (on the right in the "Vids of the Week" column).
On the face of it, National Party leader John Key's 'lack of clarity' over his direct pecuniary interest in TranzRail would appear to be a bigger issue than the Peter's issue.
In Peters' case, the money that went to the legal fund for the electoral petition did not go directly to Peters or his party. The issue there is whether or not Peter's solicited the donation and knew about it when it was rendered.
In Key's case, the money involved was either his directly (50,000 shares?) or that of a trust in which he was a beneficiary (up to 50,000 shares). All while he was actively seeking information as an MP about rail and possible sale. He says he didn't make any "public statements" about rail until his shares were sold. So what? He's already privy to information other shareholders don't have and can't get - a fairly straight forward prima facie case of insider trading and a fairly overt conflict of interest given his activities as an MP looking into the matter.
Honesty is the core issue here.....and isn't it absolutely fascinating how Winston Peters' honesty about money that wasn't his has been front page news for months while Mr. Key's apparent lack of candor about his own money in relation to his activities as an MP has been glossed over in those daily newspapers that desperately want a National Party government.
In that context, the NZ Herald and others haven't got a leg to stand on where integrity is concerned.
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