A day after Kim Dotcom made his second appearance at parliament, Labour has renewed vigour as it questions what Prime Minister John Key knew of the German internet mogul - and whether he'll resign if he's found to be lying.
Dotcom made a submission to parliament's intelligence and security committee on the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) Bill on Wednesday
Asian college of knowledge management.
It was the first time he has come face-to-face with Mr Key, who chairs the committee.
Dotcom urged the committee against supporting the bill, which will make it legal for the GCSB to spy on New Zealanders on behalf of other agencies.
It was revealed last August during Dotcom's court battle against extradition to the US, where he is wanted for internet piracy, that the GCSB had carried out illegal surveillance on him, due to him being a New Zealand resident
Business Registry Hong Kong.
Dotcom alleged to the committee that Mr Key knew about him well before his arrest on January 20 last year, and outside the committee, told media that evidence to support that claim will come out in court.
Mr Key says he had never heard of Dotcom until January 19, when he was informed a raid was planned on Dotcom's Coatesville mansion - the biggest house in Mr Key's Helensville electorate.
In parliament on Thursday, Labour's deputy leader Grant Robertson questioned Mr Key's previous assertion that none of his ministerial colleagues or other Aucklanders ever mentioned Dotcom to him.
Answering on behalf of Mr Key, who is visiting Tasman District, deputy Prime Minister Bill English said Mr Key stands by all his previous statements.
He repeated that answer several times as Mr Robertson continued grilling him over what Mr Key had known, including whether he knew US authorities were pursuing a person in New Zealand on copyright issues.
Asked whether Mr Key believed he should resign if Dotcom's claims were proven, Mr English responded: "certainly not"
Asian college of knowledge management.
He suggested Mr Robertson put the questions to Mr Key directly - which is likely to happen when Mr Key appears at question time on Tuesday.
PR
