Dotcom promises election eve political bombshell

Kim Dotcom, during the official announcement of Laila Harre's leadership of the fledgling Internet Party. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Mogul claims residency checks set aside to lure him within FBI’s reach but government denies interference.

Kim Dotcom has announced he plans to drop a political bombshell five days before the general election which he says will prove the Prime Minister has been lying about when he first knew about the German internet tycoon.

Dotcom made the announcement yesterday to 3News on the first day of the internet Mana party's road trip campaign.

"On September 15, I'm doing a Town Hall event in Auckland and I invite everyone to come there because that is going to be the day when I'm going to reveal my evidence.....my evidence around the political interference and my evidence that John Key lied," Dotcom said.

Internet party leader Laila Harre told the Firstline programme this morning that while she did not know the exact details of the revelations, every claim Dotcom had made regarding his residency saga to date had eventually been borne out by the evidence.

"Like other New Zealanders, I don't know all the details of this case, but I want to know the truth and I don't trust the Government we have to get to the heart of this issue and that's why I'm calling for the establishment of a Royal Commission into these issues."

The New Zealand Herald yesterday revealed documents declassified and released through the Official Information Act which showed the Security Intelligence Service tried to block Dotcom's residency application but dropped its objection 90 minutes after being told there was "political pressure" to let the tycoon into New Zealand.

Internet Party leader Laila Harre. Photo / Doug Sherring

Labour's Associate Security and Intelligence spokesman Grant Robertson told Firstline this morning that Dotcom's promised political bombshell was a "pretty good marketing ploy" for the Internet Mana party.

"Kim Dotcom has said for a long time that he believes John Key knew that he was here and knew about his case well before Mr Key acknowledged that.

"It does somewhat defy belief when you've got Jonathan Coleman, Simon Power, Chris Finlayson, Maurice Williamson, all knowing about Kim Dotcom, all aware of some significant issues and yet John Key didn't find out about that - that's always stretched credibility.

"It'll interesting to see what's happening on the 15th of September," Mr Robertson said.

Head of Immigration New Zealand Nigel Bickle this morning told Radio New Zealand he was "absolutely confident" an immigration officer made a lawful decision which did not involve government ministers applying any pressure.

"I certainly have made inquiries of the staff member of Immigration New Zealand who can't recall using those terms at all."

"I am convinced that Immigration New Zealand has followed the law."

Next story: Dotcom: Why wasn't I blocked?