The Teapot Tapes
On 18 May 2011 Banks joined ACT New Zealand and applied to contest the Epsom electorate for the party in the 2011 general election. He was confirmed as the party's candidate on 28 May.
In November 2011, Banks and Prime Minister John Key had a cup of tea together in a cafe in Newmarket. Their meeting two weeks before election day was seen as a symbolic endorsement of Mr Banks by the National Party as their preferred candidate for the Epsom electorate. After publicly meeting for some time, media were asked to leave. A journalist, Bradley Ambrose, left his recording device behind, and subsequently gave the recording of the politicians' conversation to the Herald on Sunday newspaper. The recording allegedly contained comments about the leadership of ACT and disparaging remarks about elderly New Zealand First supporters. There was intense media interest in what was on the recording but the Herald refused to publish it. The recording became known as the Teapot Tape and the incident was a highly embarrassing for both of them.
The ACT Party did poorly in the election, attracting only 1.07 per cent of the vote. However, Banks won the Epsom electorate becoming the party's sole MP. Party leader Don Brash resigned shortly thereafter and in February 2012, Banks was unanimously voted ACT party leader by the ACT board.
Read more about this topic: John Banks (New Zealand Politician)
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