By Rebecca Wright and 3news.co.nz staff
Winston Peters has sent the tea cups flying - and the police have begun taking action.
The New Zealand first leader has repeated at a campaign speech what he says are direct quotes from the private Epsom conversation between Prime Minister John Key and John Banks.
Lawyers acting for the cameraman who recorded the conversation between the Prime Minister and Mr Banks are going to the High Court, seeking a declaration that the conversation was not a "private communication".
If they are successful, police would not be able to bring charges against the cameraman under the Crimes Act.
It looks as if the teapot tapes could be having a positive effect on the NZ First leader’s election chances.
A 3 News Reid Research poll has Mr Peters on the move, up by 1.1 percent to 3.5 percent, and National down to its lowest level since it won the 2008 election.
Mr Peters said he did it to show how manipulative and insulting Mr Key and Mr Banks had been.
The speech was delivered to a Working Men's Club in Invercargill - but Mr Peters’ words were aimed at a far wider audience - and he says those words came from the mouths of Mr Banks and Mr Key.
Click here for a transcript of Mr Peters’ full speech
Click to watch a video of the full speech
Describing that conversation as "cuppa-gate", Mr Peters said it shone a long overdue light on John Key's judgement.
Among the details of the conversation he gave, were that it covered rebuilding ACT with a new leader - ACT candidate Catherine Isaac.
Perhaps what incensed Mr Peters most was when he says the conversation turned to Mr Peters himself and Mr Key was speaking.
Mr Peters says the Prime Minister said his “constituents are dying”.
Remember ACT's leader Don Brash is on record saying John Banks assured him nothing derogatory or embarrasing about Mr Brash had been said – a line Mr Brash maintained today.
But Mr Peters claims Mr Banks describes Mr Brash as “a strange fellow” in the tape, and Mr Key replies; “Yes, we’ve been down that road before.”
• Live updates from the election campaign
• Police target media in teapot tape scandal
• Brash: Key 'in a very difficult spot'
• Tape saga reveals 'changing face of PM'
• No sympathy for Key from minor parties
So where does that leave Mr Key and Mr Banks?
The Prime Minister was in Whangarei this morning - and still not in a mood to talk about the tape recording, repeatedly saying it was a matter for the police.
And police were on the case - visiting 3 News and preparing search warrants, even before Mr Peters made his speech.
Search warrants are being prepared for four major New Zealand media organisations and the Prime Minister has had to fend off accusations of wasting police time.
"Actually National has brought the crime rate down so the police have some spare time on their hands,” he said.
But then the New Zealand First leader splashed the tea all over the walls.
So the question now is are Mr Peters’ quotes accurate or accurate enough?
And could they see him facing a prosecution?
Police told 3 News we would face prosecution, if we were the ones who went public with what Mr Banks and Mr Key had said.
3 News