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shortly after Dotcom’s grandiose Auckland waterfront fireworks display. He also quizzed him about the donation.

Banks: “I don’t know. I haven’t seen the forms now for a couple of years. I don’t know who gave me money. I can’t remember now. And some people gave it to me anonymously.”
Campbell: “Did you ever discuss taking money from Kim Dotcom or Wayne Tempero or anyone associated with Megaupload?”
Banks: “I met them. I know them. I can’t recall discussing money with them.”

The issue for Banks was his legal obligation to declare where money came from if he knew the identity of the donor. Dotcom was clear on it in an interview with the New Zealand Herald the next day.

“(Banks) mentioned the elections were coming up (and) he was raising money for his campaign,” said Dotcom. “He said it was hard to raise money in New Zealand, the mayoral campaign was coming up and he’s trying to raise funds for that. I kind of liked the guy. I said, ‘I’m happy to help.’ I told Wayne (Tempero) to write a cheque for $50,000. His (Banks) eyes got a little bit bigger at that moment.”

Tempero asked the chief financial officer Grant McKavanagh to write out the cheque — at which point Dotcom recalled Banks asking for two payments of $25,000 each. The reason, Dotcom said he was told, was so Banks could keep the donor’s identity anonymous. Dotcom said: “I don’t have a problem with it being known I donated money to you.” Sworn statements had Banks replying: “I want to help you Kim and I can help you more effectively if no one knows about this donation.”

Banks’ responses stayed evasive but became increasingly bizarre as questions continued. Quizzed by broadcaster Paul Holmes on TVNZ’s Q&A political interview show, he said: “I think you think I came up the river on a cabbage boat” — an odd refrain to which he would return in the days to come. When asked about a relationship with Dotcom, he told Radio Live journalist Frances Cook it was an “offensive” question. “I have never had a relationship with Dotcom. He’s a married man.” In another refrain which would become familiar, he said: “Nothing to fear, nothing to hide.”

In the weeks which followed, Dotcom released copies of the cheques. Complaints were made to the police by the Labour Party, the main political group opposing the National Party, and an investigation was launched. When it emerged, through the New Zealand Herald, that Banks had lobbied his old friend, Lands Minister Maurice Williamson, over Dotcom’s application to purchase the mansion, as described earlier,

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