Opposition leaders are heaping scorn on Prime Minister John Key for continuing to refuse permission for the infamous "teapot tape" to be reported.
The recording of his election campaign conversation with ACT's John Banks was posted on YouTube on Thursday.
It was secretly recorded by a freelance cameraman during the media stunt at an Auckland cafe when Mr Key met Mr Banks to endorse him as National's favoured candidate.
It caused an uproar at the time and Mr Key called in the police, who are still investigating.
Radio New Zealand reported on Friday it sought Mr Key's permission to broadcast the tape but he refused.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, who had a transcript of the tape during the campaign, says Mr Key's attitude is ridiculous and he's challenging RNZ to broadcast it.
Mr Peters has always maintained it isn't illegal to report what's on the tape or broadcast it, but the police say it is and mainstream media are holding off.
The poor quality recording on YouTube didn't reveal anything that wasn't known at the time and confirmed that Mr Key said NZ First's elderly supporters were "dying off".
Mr Key on Thursday apologised for that - even though he won't agree to his remarks being broadcast.
"This is making us look like a banana republic," Mr Peters said on Friday.
"For goodness sake, Mr Key staged a media stunt and there were reporters looking at him through the window."
Labour leader David Shearer says the whole thing is a joke and Mr Key shouldn't have called in the police in the first place.
News home