Name : John Phillip Key

Birth Date: 9 August 1961

Birth Place : Auckland , New Zealand

Tribe : National

Achievements:

Key, the state house kid who dreamed of making millions and of becoming PM, achieved both goals.

• In the mid-1980s, after graduating from Canterbury with a commerce degree, he launched a lucrative international career in investment banking.

• In 2001 Key returned to New Zealand to enter politics. A year later he was one of National’s few new faces after an election in which it won just 20.9% of the vote. In 2004 Opposition Leader Don Brash, another of the 2002 recruits, promoted Key to deputy and then to finance spokesman. Brash improved National’s poll ratings, but lost the 2005 election and the following year resigned under pressure, clearing the way for Key.

• Elected in November 2008, during a deepening international recession, Key formed agreements with the ACT, United Future and Maori parties and the following year signed a memorandum of understanding with the Greens. In opposition National accepted most of Labour’s key policies but in 2009 reintroduced titular honours. Like clark, Key made a statement in his selection of a portfolio, in his case tourism.

time line : 

john key personal timeline :

• 27 Sep 2008 – John Key tells the NZ Herald he is moving ensure that all of his investments “in totality” will be managed by a blind trust and that he is establishing the trust “at the moment”

• 8 Nov 2008 – New Zealand Elections

• 14 Nov 2008 – Company called Whitechapel Ltd registered with the Companies Office.

• 4 Dec 2008 – Key’s shares in Dairy Investment Fund Ltd are transferred to Whitechapel Ltd.

• 22 Dec 2008 – Key’s shares in vineyard owner, Devils Creek Ltd (now Highwater) transferred to Whitechapel Ltd

• 16 Jan 2009 – John Key tells the Herald he ‘hasn’t a clue’ where his assets are invested.

• 30/31 Jan 2009 – John Key speaks at Pinot Noir Celebration in Queenstown and tells visiting UK wine commentator that he owns a vineyard and it’s doing quite well

• 8 Apr 2009 – John Key’s shares in Earl of Auckland Ltd are transferred into Whitechapel Ltd.

• 27 May 2009 – Register of MPs Pecuniary Interests 2009 is published showing John Key declared a “blind trust” called Aldgate Trust. He does not declare vineyard or Dairy Investment Fund. He does declare Earl of Auckland Ltd, because Register is as at 31 Jan 2009.

• 6 Nov 2009 – Name of John Key’s vineyard changes from Devils Creek to Highwater Vineyard

• 25 Nov 2009 – Highwater Vineyard Ltd lodges application for trademark. On same day Andrew Nugent on John Key’s behalf lodges application to trademark “PM’s Pinot”

• Dec 2009 – John Key distributes bottles of wine with Highwater Vineyard on the label

• 19 May 2010 – Register of MPs Pecuniary Interests 2010 is published showing John Key declared Aldgate Trust and none of the previous New Zealand companies

• 26 May 2010 – John Key replies to an Oral Parliamentary question saying he doesn’t have a clue where his assets are held. TV3 breaks story of Whitechapel Ltd and how Key can identify his holdings.

• 27 May 2010 – Breach of privilege complaint lodged with the Speaker