A freelance journalist is seeking $1.25 million in damages from John Key, claiming the Prime Minister has defamed him.
Bradley Ambrose, the freelance reporter at the centre of the so-called teapot tape incident in November 2011, has brought the legal action against Key in the High Court in Auckland.
According to legal documents obtained by Radio New Zealand, Ambrose says Key made defamatory comments about him on three occasions.
Documents filed by the Prime Minister’s lawyer say the comments are true and that they were John Key's honest opinion.
The case is the latest development in the saga of the staged “cup of tea” between the then ACT Party candidate for Epsom, John Banks, and John Key.
Shortly before the 2011 election, media were invited to cover the meeting which effectively saw John Key endorsing Banks to Epsom voters. The pair posed for photographs at a cafe before heading inside for a cup of tea.
According to court documents, Ambrose left a recording device on the table by accident and it recorded the conversation.
A document filed by Key's lawyer states the Prime Minister believed Ambrose had made the recording on purpose.
Ambrose has always denied this.
