Urgent Media Advisory - Prime Minister John Key

Police have confirmed that this afternoon we have received a formal complaint from the Prime Minister Right Honourable John Key concerning an allegation that a private conversation between himself and the honourable John Banks has been unlawfully recorded.

This is potentially an offence under s216B Crime Act 1961 carrying a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment.

Media outlets are advised that it is an offence to disclose private communications unlawfully intercepted. This offence, is punishable by up to two years imprisonment where any person discloses the private communication, or the substance, meaning, or purport of the communication or any part of it, or discloses the existence of the private communication if he knows that it has come to his knowledge as a direct or indirect result of an offence against s216B Crimes Act.

Police have indicated that they have commenced an active investigation into this complaint.