The Paradise Conspiracy

A very interesting behind-the-scenes insight into political and business 'dealings' of the 80's and 90's.

A very interesting and informative book.

I love every subject Ian Wishart writes about. All his books are such an easy read, thought provoking into wanting you to help save the world and bring down corruption.

The Paradise Conspiracy by Ian Wishart, is a true story set in the 1980s and 1990s. Known as the wine box investigations, it involves: secret files, arms dealing, corruption, money laundering, death threats, kidnap and more. Ian Wishart, is one of New Zealand’s best investigative journalists and this is his story as he and Winston Peters, a New Zealand politician, uncover a scheme to defraud New Zealand, Australian, Japanese and other country tax systems of millions of dollars through the Cook Island tax haven.This story begins in June 1992, when a 26 year old second-hand computer dealer purchased a set of used floppy discs discarded by an international bank. The information on these discs lead Wishart and Peters on a path of discovery as they uncover schemes to launder money and defraud countries of millions of dollars in tax revenue. In September 1992, Paul White dies mysteriously in what junior police investigators conclude to be a car accident. Wishart, himself, prior to publishing this book finds his car brakes have been tampered with, while others sharing information over the investigation experience death-threats.Airing this discovery on television is beleaguered with threats, court injunctions and Management obstacles, and in parliament by opposition by some National members of parliament. It is not until two years later that Wishart and Peter’s tenacity is rewarded with the public airing of the wine box.While the book at times is not easy reading it is a book I strongly recommend.

This book written by one of New Zealand's best investigative journalists, is well worth the read.Much of the book centres on the shady dealings of big business who allegedly ripped off the NZ tax system by millions of dollars through an elaborate scheme that became known as "the winebox".Those who did not want to see this book come to print spent two years, and a million dollars trying to ban it.The section of the book dealing with the mysterious death of Paul White, has now been turned into a movie by leading movie director Geoff Murphy called "Spooked".Paul White was a NZ computer dealer who unwittingly purchased disks containing highly sensitive International Banking records as part of a second-hand computer deal.The events leading to the "accidental" death of Paul, give credance to the view that he was "taken out".This is one of those books where you can feel the adrenaline coursing through your veins!

Enjoyable but frightening view into the dishonest practices of international banking and the contrivance of politicians of all political colours to share in the ill gotten gains. The idea that money is: "like Tinkerbelle; it only exists if you believe it". Although based on NZ financial collapse it covers all major countries. An enlightening but sadly depressing glimpse of what the future may hold for all of us.

Hard to put down