John Key On Donald Trump Winning US Election

John Key New Zealand PM Resignation Speech

New Zealand PM in Trouble over David Beckham 'Thick' Comment
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has found himself at the centre of a social media storm over insulting remarks he is reported to have made about football player David Beckham.

Mr Key appeared on television on Monday parrying questions over whether he had, as reported in New Zealand media, branded David Beckham, who plays for LA Galaxy and was a celebrity ambassador for the London 2012 Olympics, "thick as bat ----"

The media said Mr Key made the remark last week when telling school pupils about Beckham's visit to New Zealand in 2008 for an exhibition match between the LA Galaxy and the Oceania All-Stars in Auckland.

Radio New Zealand said Mr Key described Beckham as handsome and "a really nice guy" but "thick".

He was repeatedly asked on breakfast TV about his alleged comments.

"That is someone that thinks they have overheard a conversation I have had. I am not going to engage in that because otherwise I am engaging in every conversation that someone thinks I have," Mr Key said.


THE GUARDIAN: New Zealand PM accused of calling David Beckham 'thick': John Key reported to have insulted former England football captain during a school visit in Auckland » | Press Association | Monday, November 05, 2012

New Zealand Election: John Key Wins Second Term as Prime Minister

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: John Key, the New Zealand prime minister, promised voters 'a brighter future' after his centre-right National party was swept back to power in a general election on Saturday.

During a victory speech to ecstatic supporters chanting "three more years", Mr Key said: "We have been given the trust and goodwill of New Zealanders.

"I do not take that trust for granted, and I never will.

"Tonight New Zealanders voted for a brighter future, and there will be a brighter future."

Mr Key alluded to some of the major issues he had faced during his first term in office, such as the destructive Christchurch earthquakes and the Pike River coal mine disaster.

"Over the past 15 months, New Zealand has experienced more than its fair share of challenges, but as a country we have risen to them," he said.

"We have shown that in the worst of times you have seen the very best of New Zealanders."

In an interview later, he renewed his commitment to returning the government's books to surplus by 2014 and addressing the controversial topic of welfare reform. » | Paul Chapman, Wellington | Saturday, November 16, 2011

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The Smiling Assassin »

DIE PRESSE: Neuseeland: Konservative vor Wahlsieg im plötzlichen Auswanderungsland » | Manuela Kornell | Freitag 25. November 2011

New Zealand Earthquake: State of Emergency Declared
THE TELEGRAPH: A state of emergency has been declared after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the New Zealand city of Christchurch, destroying hundreds of buildings.

Isolated cases of looting were reported but police quickly responded by increasing their presence around city centre shops. Photo: The Telegraph
Police sealed off the centre of New Zealand's second largest city because of the danger from falling masonry during a series of strong aftershocks.

Eighty extra police officers were drafted in Auckland to help enforce a 7pm to 7am curfew.

Army units were also being sent in to assist with relief work.

As night fell on scenes of devastation, fears were mounting of health risks from fractured sewage pipes and residents were warned to boil drinking water.

A fire erupted in the shattered central city and firefighters racing to tackle it were hampered by a lack of water pressure caused by burst mains.

Earlier, isolated cases of looting were reported but police quickly responded by increasing their presence around city centre shops.

Christchurch Hospital was inundated with casualties, mainly cuts and fractures, although at least two people were in a serious condition.

One was a man in his 50s who was hit by a falling chimney, while another man was badly cut by glass.

Ten people were admitted with suspected heart attacks triggered by shock.

No deaths were reported, which John Key, the Prime Minister, described as "a miracle". >>> Paul Chapman, in Wellington | Saturday, September 04, 2010

TVNZ – Watch video: Prime Minister John Key reacts to the Christchurch earthquake >>>

To The Guardian photo gallery >>> | Saturday, September 04, 2010

Curfew declared in New Zealand >>>

How the New Zealand PM Silenced the Press with News of His Vasectomy
THE GUARDIAN: New Zealand's prime minister John Key has revealed he's had the snip - and left his audience in embarrassed silence

As a nation, we can let out a well-repressed sigh of relief. There is a country even more prudish about things "down below" than us. John Key, New Zealand's prime minister, has reportedly "silenced a room full of press" by informing them that he'd had – brace yourselves – a vasectomy.

Proceedings ground to a clanging halt as the press mentally processed this horrifying image of the leader of a powerful nation (well, New Zealand) willingly submitting to "the snip".

"Boy, that's slowed things down. Any other questions?" asked the PM, eager to get back to the subject of the press conference: funding for early childhood education centres (he had been asked if his views would change if he were to have another child). But clearly that wasn't going to work – after a pause, the next question was, inevitably: "Did it hurt?" "Not overly," was the measured response. >>> Jon Robins | Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Related: Nick It, Snip It, Cut It >>>

Nick It, Snip It, Cut It!
MAIL ONLINE: A premier silenced a room full of press yesterday when he told them he’d had a vasectomy.

New Zealand prime minister John Key was answering questions about badly-needed funding for early childhood education centres.

‘I think if I sent my 15-year-old or 17-year-old to early childhood at the moment they’d have a meltdown,’ he told reporters.

Asked what would happen if his wife had another child, he said: ‘I’d be extremely worried – because I’ve had a vasectomy.’ New Zealand prime minister forced to admit: 'I've had the snip' >>> Daily Mail Reporter | Monday, May 31, 2010

John Key on Facebook >>>

Prime Minister Stuns Press Pack With Cutting Comment
John Key, with wife Bronagh, says his vasectomy has been 'highly successful'. Photograph: New Zealand Herald
NEW ZEALAND HERALD: Prime Minister John Key revealed yesterday that he has had a vasectomy, providing a new slant on questions about Budget cuts at his post-Cabinet meeting press conference.

Mr Key had been fielding questions on whether parents facing price increases at Early Childhood Education centres would still be better off from changes in the Budget.

The Government is dumping the subsidy to ECE centres that have 100 per cent of their staff trained as teachers but will still fully subsidise centres where teachers make up 80 per cent of the staff.

When asked if he would be happy for his own children to attend an 80 per cent ECE, Mr Key quipped: "I think if I sent my 15-year-old or 17-year-old to early childhood at the moment they'd have a meltdown."

But what if his wife Bronagh had another?

"I'd be extremely worried because I've had a vasectomy. If you're asking a hypothetical question, I would be happy with 80 per cent teacher-led. >>> Derek Cheng | Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Watch NZ Herald video: John Key on his vasectomy >>> | Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Key Says NZ Election a ‘Vote for Change’
NZ HERALD: John Key has said the country has "voted for change" after his National Party won the election tonight.

He described the Labour term in government as "nine long years" and said: "New Zealand has so much more potential."

Key spoke at National Party headquarters after Helen Clark said she will stand down as Labour Party leader.

National won 45.5 per cent of the vote to Labour's 33.8 per cent, giving 
National 59 seats.

It will form a coalition of 65 MPs with Act's 5 seats and Peter Dunne from United Future.

Key said New Zealand had spoken. >>> November 9, 2008

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: New Zealand Changes Govt, Key New PM

New Zealand's incoming prime minister John Key says his party's decisive win over the ruling Labour Party shows his nation has voted for change.

Key's centre-right National Party defeated the Labour Party, winning more than 45 per cent of the primary vote, enough to govern with the support of minor parties.

"In their hundreds of thousands across the country they have voted for change," Key told supporters at a function in Auckland.
Key, 47, promised a government he led would herald a more ambitious future for the country, which is in a recession and has rising unemployment.

"We need everybody pulling in the same direction. If we do that. If we work hard and if we remain determined we will make New Zealand as prosperous as we all know it can be," Key said.

"It will be a government that values individual achievement. It will be a government that supports those that cannot support themselves. And it will be a government we can all be part of," he said.

Key's defeat of the Labour government led by Prime Minister Helen Clark ends her nine-year reign as New Zealand's leader. >>> © 2008 AAP | November 8, 2008

DIE PRESSE: Neuseeland: Millionär mit Wiener Wurzeln als neuer Premier

Konservative Nationalpartei löst Sozialdemokraten ab. Der künftige Premier John Key hat österreichische Wurzeln: Seine Mutter Ruth stammt aus Wien

Wellington: Neuseelands Labour-Regierung ist eine der ersten, die im Strudel der weltweiten Finanzkrise an der Wahlurne gestrauchelt ist. Nach neun Jahren sozialdemokratischer Herrschaft entschieden sich die Wähler am Samstag für die rechts-liberale Nationalpartei und ihren politisch unerfahrenen früheren Investmentbanker John Key an der Spitze.

Der künftige Premier Neuseelands hat übrigens österreichische Wurzeln: Seine Mutter Ruth stammt aus Wien, musste aber als Jüdin 1939 nach London fliehen. Später emigrierte sie mit ihrem Mann George nach Neuseeland, wo ihr Sohn zur Welt kam.

Key hatte sich im Wahlkampf ganz auf die Wirtschaftskrise konzentriert: Explodierende Energiekosten und ein Einbruch am Immobilienmarkt hatten Neuseeland nach zehn Wachstumsjahren erstmals in eine Rezession gestürzt. Die Regierung musste das erste Haushaltsdefizit seit 1994 einräumen. Der künftige Premierminister Key versprach ein konservatives Programm: Steuersenkungen, Senkung der Lohnnebenkosten, weniger Regierungsbürokratie, härtere Strafen für Kriminelle. >>> ag. | 9. November 2008

LE MONDE: Les Néo-Zélandais ont élu un ex-banquier d'affaires conservateur pour faire face à la crise

Photo de John Key, ex-banquier, grâce au Monde
L'opposition conservatrice néo-zélandaise, représentée par le Parti national, a remporté, samedi 8 novembre, les élections législatives mettant fin à neuf ans de pouvoir travailliste dans ce pays.

Helen Clark, premier ministre sortant, qui a échoué à décrocher un quatrième mandat, a admis sa défaite depuis Auckland. "Je félicite John Key et le Parti national", a-t-elle déclaré. "Nous n'avons pas bénéficié ce soir de la faveur des électeurs, mais je respecte ce choix et en accepte la responsabilité", a-t-elle ajouté, annonçant qu'elle quittait la direction du parti qu'elle dirigeait depuis quinze ans.

Le Parti national a remporté 45,5 % des voix et aura 59 sièges au sein de la nouvelle Assemblée qui en compte 122. Le parti conservateur peut compter sur le soutien du parti de droite Act (5 sièges) et du parti Avenir uni (1 siège) pour dégager une majorité parlementaire. >>> | 10.11.08

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback – Australia) >>>
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Hardback – Australia) >>>