Cameron Slater dirties John Key (or vice versa?)

Written By: - Date published: 7:11 pm, August 13th, 2014 - 138 comments
Categories: blogs, David Farrar, election 2014, national - Tags: ,

I haven’t read the Nicky Hager’s book “Dirty Politics” yet. But I’m not surprised that Cameron Slater is up to his neck in pigswill provided by John Key’s dirt merchant Jason Ede. That he has been given information sourced from the SIS is extremely surprising.

I had not thought that John Key was quite that stupid or that much of a risk taker. Evidently I was wrong.

From Scoop:

‘As readers will see, there is a very high public interest in the public knowing about the activities revealed in the book. I believe that any news organisation would have jumped at the opportunity to get this material,’ Mr Hager said. For instance:

* During the 2011 election campaign Slater obtained a database of the Labour Party’s members, e-mails and donations, and gleefully attacked the party. What no one knew is that Key’s dirty tricks person, Ede, had helped throughout, including searching inside the Labour Party computers and helping Slater plan the subsequent attacks on Labour. Ede’s office was just two doors from John Key’s and presumably he was using his Ministerial Services computer (Chapter 2).

* In the same election campaign, the prime minister’s office used its knowledge of secret SIS documents to tip off Slater and arrange an attack on the Labour leader (Chapter 3).

* Ede drafted official information act requests for Slater to use in other attacks, for instance against Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff who were in conflict with the government (Chapter 3).

* When the Labour Party leadership race was on last year and getting good publicity, Ede got National Party research staff to prepare an attack on David Cunliffe and other contenders’ policies that was published on David Farrar’s Kiwiblog website the following day (Chapter 9).

* The more the National Government has used Slater, the closer that Key himself has got to the attack blogger. For instance, when most New Zealanders were appalled by Slater’s offensive comments about the West Coast man who died in the car crash, his closest associates rallied to support him. One of those who phoned him and commiserated at that time, according to Slater’s account of the conversation, was John Key (Chapter 12).

It appears that David Farrar was also complicit. This isn’t surprising as it has been evident since this site started that he was operating as a sock-puppet of people inside the National power structure.

Just looking through the summary of the book above, it is clear that several breaches of the law have been regularly happening, including the use of SIS documents to attack political foes. Complaints should be made to the police after the election. This is clearly a set of pernicious and probably illegal actions that John Key should explain to the voting public, including if he intends to continue doing the same dirty politics in the future.

Getting the courts involved would be an obvious way for National to try to gag the debate. We need the journalists to do their job and investigate these allegations. Many of them have probably been aware of these actions in the past and have been unable or unwilling to speak about them. Perhaps they will now that Nicky Hager has laid groundwork.

Needless to say, we don’t do obscene illegal, undemocratic and arrogant crap like this on the left, especially on this site. But it is what we have come to expect from National and it’s sockpuppets.

 

 

Immediate reaction from:

 

 

138 comments on “Cameron Slater dirties John Key (or vice versa?) ”

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  1. BLiP 1
    13 August 2014 at 7:21 pm

    ‘

    And so now we have DOX . . . fuckety bye John Key.

  2. weka 2
    13 August 2014 at 7:23 pm

    “I’d had not thought that John Key was quite that stupid or that much of a risk taker. Evidently I was wrong.”

    Yes, but what’s the likelihood that there will be a direct, provable link between Key and the actions? More likely is that Key has a firewall between him and what was going on. Hager uses the term ‘PM’s office’, and doesn’t name Key directly. Obviously still very bad for Key politically, but hasn’t he been denying knowledge of shit for 6 years? And more to the point, haven’t too many people been believing him, or at least letting him get away with it? It would be fantastic if this is the turning point on that.

    • lprent 2.1
      13 August 2014 at 7:26 pm

      He is the minister in charge of the SIS.

      • weka 2.1.1
        13 August 2014 at 7:31 pm

        Do you mean the issue is more about what his Ministerial department has been doing (taking direction from the PM’s office), as opposed to what his PM office has been doing? Or just that he is too close this time?

        • lprent 2.1.1.1
          13 August 2014 at 7:41 pm

          More that the information provided to the PM in his role as “Minister in charge of the NZ Security Intelligence Service” is meant to be provided to the security of NZ.

          It is not meant to be provided to Jason Ede to tell Cameron Slater how to OIA it, and then for John Key to declassify it to provide it for the OIA. There is a direct line of responsibility that shows John Key using his ministerial control over the SIS for his political purposes.

          John Key can’t pass that off as

          “It is our understanding Mr Ede took pictures of the aftermath of the press gallery function and sent them to a blogger,” she said.

          “Mr Ede did this off his own bat.

          That is one serious mis-use of the ministerial role.

          I should be able to read the book tomorrow evening after work. I’ll be fascinated to see what else is in there.

          • karol 2.1.1.1.1
            13 August 2014 at 7:42 pm

            Where did you get a copy so quickly? I understood they are only on sale in Wellington so far.

            I’d be interested to know how Judith Collins is involved.

          • weka 2.1.1.1.2
            13 August 2014 at 7:45 pm

            Lynn, do you mean that it’s not possible that Ede could have done this without Key’s official involvement?

            • lprent 2.1.1.1.2.1
              13 August 2014 at 7:51 pm

              It is hard to see how a press level staffer in John Keys office could (or should) have influenced the SIS. From the reports, he was writing the OIAs for Slater, and having the documents declassified. I can’t see any way that could have been done without John Key being involved.

              John Key is the only person in that office who has any control over the SIS.

              John Key either asked or authorised it to happen. Or he has lent a parliamentary staffer his authority over the SIS. I’m not sure which is more scary. Both exceed the legal bounds in my view.

              • weka …
                13 August 2014 at 8:00 pm

                Or Key is advised to have the documents declassified for another reason and does so? You are probably right, it’s just Slippery has been successfully avoiding responsibility for so long now. Fingers crossed he is totally screwed on this one.

          • Bob 2.1.1.1.3
            13 August 2014 at 8:17 pm

            LPrent, the key line there is “It is our understanding”, i.e. “I have no proof of anything so I will make a wild accusation”, I would have expected a man of your intellect to pick up on that!

            • karol 2.1.1.1.3.1
              13 August 2014 at 8:20 pm

              Bob, you clearly haven’t grasped the significance of Lynn’s use of that quote in his comment. try again.

            • lprent 2.1.1.1.3.2
              13 August 2014 at 8:21 pm

              You mean that someone in John Key’s office was lying about Jason Ede? Spraying wild accusations around about him?

              (you really should read the link before making a dick of yourself).

          • Tom Jackson 2.1.1.1.4
            13 August 2014 at 9:13 pm

            Do you know anything about the hacking of Labour’s computers, Lprent?

            [lprent: Getting off topic. My reply in OpenMike http://thestandard.org.nz/open-mike-13082014/#comment-865715 ]

    • karol 2.2
      13 August 2014 at 7:29 pm

      On Campbell Live, Hager said the PM’s office – Ede and the staff – is explicitly involved in coordinating attacks: eg that the staff in the PM’s office were involved in going inside the Labour Party computers, and using stuff they found to attack the LP And that it isn’t believable that Key didn’t know about it.

      Hager also said, other communications covered in the book (eg phone calls between Key & Slater), show Key knew exactly what was going on. Hager said it’s not believable that such a long serving staff member as Ede was acting in a totally rogue way.

      • weka 2.2.1
        13 August 2014 at 7:44 pm

        I agree karol, Key will have been involved and known at least some of what has been going on. It’s whether there is hard proof of that. It wouldn’t surprise me if he is protected in this and/or lies his way out of it. Who believes the lies now will be interesting.

      • Herodotus 2.2.2
        13 August 2014 at 7:45 pm

        Unless you are part of a very small minority ( like readers and contributors here)or live in the beltway, the tv 3 Campbell had nothing IMO that would catch the attention or change a voters intention. Whale oil cam slater are meaningless to most.
        Be it Hager or Wishart, most of their books have very little to do with day to day happenings to most and this will do little in changing the outcome in a few weeks time. Hope .com has something more when he makes his big appearance.
        Interesting in how both 7:00 post news program’s content was made up.
        Unless hager’s book has a hidden gem, thought he would have disclosed on Campbell something more substantial. I’m sure many here will differ…. 🙂

    • Tracey 2.3
      13 August 2014 at 7:56 pm

      will he sack mr ede and deflect that way?

    • David H 2.4
      14 August 2014 at 8:29 am

      That’s what happens with most crims too, they just think that they will never get caught… Until the finger is felt on the Collar. It’s called over confidence, and I love it in a NAT Politician.

  3. Anne 3
    13 August 2014 at 7:25 pm

    Complaints should be made to the police after the election.

    You can be rest assured some idiot will lose his/her head and lay a complaint in the next week or so thus shutting down the story before its full implications are known to the general public.

    Someone whisper in Penny Bright’s ear please.

  4. Ennui 4
    13 August 2014 at 7:27 pm

    Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

    • ropata 4.1
      13 August 2014 at 9:20 pm

      Slater isn’t in Denmark…
      I suspect that something revolting is festering in the state of South Korea at the moment

  5. AmaKiwi 5
    13 August 2014 at 7:34 pm

    Any political use of SIS information makes clear why oversight of the security services must be done by a multi-party committee headed by the Leader of the Opposition, NOT the PM, whomever the PM may be in the future.

    I would like that proposal to be submitted for a binding referendum so a future “overwhelmingly popular” government cannot undo it.

    • Anne 5.1
      13 August 2014 at 7:40 pm

      Bruce Slane suggested on RNZ it should be headed by the Auditor General, the Privacy Commissioner and the Chief Ombudsman with the ability to roam through the agencies at any time.

  6. Anne 6
    13 August 2014 at 7:37 pm

    A TV reporter went to Slater’s home and knocked on the door. A woman’s voice could be heard on the other side of the closed door explaining… “Slater was away for at least two more weeks. He’d been in Fiji where he was interviewing people and he was now in Korea.”.

    I wonder if he was gathering ‘evidence’ for another little outburst of dirt on someone?
    Well, he won’t be able to use it now.

  7. Weepus beard 7
    13 August 2014 at 7:37 pm

    I’ve always been suspicious of the PM’s office and the up till now casual link between it and Slater, and I’ve always suspected John Key’s regime is not above using intelligence agencies to attack political opponents.

    It’s our Watergate, and it is delicious.

    • ropata 7.1
      13 August 2014 at 9:31 pm

      delicious? more like disgusting, disappointing, and sad

      for those of us who aren’t detached superior postmodern intellectuals (i.e. dim-post and acolytes)

      • Weepus beard 7.1.1
        13 August 2014 at 9:33 pm

        Mate, I’m on your side.

        I’m not sad because I suspected this always but was mute. Someone else has spoken.

        It’s a great day.

        • ropata 7.1.1.1
          13 August 2014 at 9:37 pm

          Cheers mate. Feeling pretty angry right now, but you’re right, a bit of sunlight is good for democracy.

          • Tiger Mountain 7.1.1.1.1
            13 August 2014 at 11:09 pm

            Same Ropata, hopefully there will have been a political cleansing of some sort by the time this is all over. In a better world a stack of resignations including John Phillip (Higher Standards) Key’s would be handed in tomorrow. National would sever all ties with Whaleboil and beg the nation for forgiveness. But they will likely fight the tide OIA by OIA, revelation by revelation.

            And Dotcom’s Sept 15 Greenwald meeting is still tick tick ticking.

  8. Michael who failed Civics 8
    13 August 2014 at 7:38 pm

    Key and his flunkies deserve jail if even half of what Hager alleges is true. Once again, the SIS is revealed as a branch of the National Party. It must be reformed or disbanded. None of this will happen of course and I expect Key to be re-elected on 20 September.

    • Anne 8.1
      13 August 2014 at 7:49 pm

      Once again, the SIS is revealed as a branch of the National Party.

      Don’t jump to conclusions Michael.

      It is the job of the SIS to keep the Prime Minister of the day informed on all matters relating to the governance of the country and that includes political concerns. They are not responsible for what the Prime Minister then does with that information.

      Rob Muldoon used info. provided by the SIS for political gain and he got away with it. It looks like John Key is not going to be so lucky.

      To my knowledge no other NZ Prime Minister other then these two sunk to such low levels.

    • local Kiwi 8.2
      13 August 2014 at 8:17 pm

      Michael do you have a memory?
      Try this.
      This is another chapter of Watergate right?

      Hacking in to another Political party database?

      We know how that ended with Richard Nixon resigning so we should have Key do what Nixon said, “I will resign effective at noon today”

      Just to put the icing on the cake folks wasn’t it John Key that said in Parliament during Q+A about a month or so ago in responses to David Cunliffe’s pointed questions over Kim.com and Orivida, —-Key said; “you want me to find dirt on you all, I have got it all in my draw”

      But he hung himself anyway.

      Why has MSM just two days ago rigged a poll saying 64% of National voters state that they believe national relies to much on John Key?

      Guess they knew what they were doing was leaked. Key said two years ago “if NZ gets negative I will just get up and leave,”

      I will help him pack. –

  9. ianmac 9
    13 August 2014 at 7:40 pm

    It is possible that those undecided voters might tilt against the Government, whether there is proof or no proof. Just having doubt is corrosive and at the very least there must be questions to answer.

    In keeping with the casual relaxed persona of Mr Key, he will shrug and say that it is nothing to do with him or Team Key. That is the means whereby Key has smiled and waved and kept his hands clean. I imagine that the avid Nat supporters will just deny, deflect and carry on with Nats. Regardless.

  10. ianmac 10
    13 August 2014 at 7:43 pm

    The involvement of Williams, makes his words on the Panel today seem a bit empty now?

    • karol 10.1
      13 August 2014 at 7:44 pm

      What did he say?

      • Te Reo Putake 10.1.1
        13 August 2014 at 7:51 pm

        That the Taxpayers union were concerned about transparency and honesty and were “apolitical”.

        • Anne 10.1.1.1
          13 August 2014 at 8:01 pm

          He also talked about starting a public register of election bribes and how much they were really going to cost… at which point I switched off. Since National hasn’t announced any new policies, I guess it was going to be targeting Labour, the Greens and the IMP.

          • Te Reo Putake 10.1.1.1.1
            13 August 2014 at 8:18 pm

            The ‘bribometer’ is a case of garbage in, garbage out. All it records is proposed spending and doesn’t discount against savings in other areas. It’s meaningless, but in a way that is fundamentally dishonest.

            And yes, Labour bad, National much less bad.

  11. Bob 11
    13 August 2014 at 8:10 pm

    Hager was just on Campbell Live admitting he had absolutely nothing on Key other than innuendo, same old Hager then?
    If I was Slater I would be laying criminal charges against Hager, if Slater loses his case then it works against Hager unless Hager releases his sources. Same situation, Hager isn’t employed as a Journalist and has been given private correspondence which he has released to the public.

    • karol 11.1
      13 August 2014 at 8:16 pm

      At the very least, it’s not good for the National Party under Key’s watch.

      Campbell said one thing a lot of people know for sure, is that Slater is a very nasty person.

      I will be surprised if Ede stays in his job. And with the election coming up, that’s a spanner in the works of the Nats’ oily smear machine.

      Hager didn’t say he had nothing on Key. He said most of the damning evidence is of the PM’s office. But there is other correspondence showing Key must have known what his staff were up to. Then there’s the SIS thing.

      • Bob 11.1.1
        13 August 2014 at 8:24 pm

        Completely agree, that Cam Slater and his smear machine has been damaged and I agree Ede will likely lose his job, but I don’t see this hurting National because as has been said here frequently, National IS Key and Key hasn’t been touched with this, apart from innuendo which has been thrown at him for the past 5 years without sticking anyway

    • weka 11.2
      13 August 2014 at 8:32 pm

      “If I was Slater I would be laying criminal charges against Hager, if Slater loses his case then it works against Hager unless Hager releases his sources.”

      What criminal charges exactly?

      • Bob 11.2.1
        13 August 2014 at 10:04 pm

        Lay a complaint under the Privacy Act 1993, section 66,
        Interference with privacy
        (1)For the purposes of this Part, an action is an interference with the privacy of an individual if, and only if,—
        (b)in the opinion of the Commissioner or, as the case may be, the Tribunal, the action—
        ii)has adversely affected, or may adversely affect, the rights, benefits, privileges, obligations, or interests of that individual; or
        (iii)has resulted in, or may result in, significant humiliation, significant loss of dignity, or significant injury to the feelings of that individual.

        • karol 11.2.1.1
          13 August 2014 at 10:08 pm

          And how will that sit, with respect to the Blomfield case. Slater would be looking a major hypocrite??!!!

          • Alistair Connor 11.2.1.1.1
            14 August 2014 at 1:07 am

            Hard to argue that Slater has any dignity to lose, or any feelings to hurt. On the other hand, if he loses his tobacco-industry contract that’s a severe monetary loss.

          • Bob 11.2.1.1.2
            14 August 2014 at 8:12 am

            As I state above, it would mean if he goes down he would take Hager with him.
            From what I have seen reading political blogs, I don’t think being called a hypocrite is an issue for most bloggers.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 11.2.1.1.2.1
              14 August 2014 at 8:17 am

              Wishful thinking escalating into full-on delusions. Educate yourself on the legal protections available to journalists.

        • weka 11.2.1.2
          13 August 2014 at 10:17 pm

          Sure, Slater can of course make a complaint to the Privacy Comissioner. That’s not a criminal matter. Besides, privacy rights aren’t absolute.

          Willing to bet that Hager has been very careful legally. And as someone has pointed out before, if Slater does sue, the discovery process will be very interesting.

          btw, you know who Blomfield is, right? http://thestandard.org.nz/its-not-stolen-i-just-borrowed-it-without-asking/

          edit: snap karol

        • Draco T Bastard 11.2.1.3
          14 August 2014 at 12:46 am

          There’s this thing called Public Interest and when alleged crimes such as we’re seeing coming out that means that there’s a lot of Public Interest. As I said elsewhere, journalists sources are sacrosanct and, to a slightly lesser degree, so are the journalists and what you suggest is the reason why. People must, absolutely must, be able to bring to light the wrong doings of others without fear of reprisal from the law.

          • Bob 11.2.1.3.1
            14 August 2014 at 11:16 am

            Correct, but Hager never gave a right of reply to anyone in the book prior to publishing, it will be hard to take a legal stance as a journalist if you refuse to offer balance or a right of reply.

            [lprent: You appear to be confused about the difference between writing as a journalist and writing as author of a book. Perhaps you should go and examine the difference.

            But I suspect you already know that, and that you’re just trying to obfuscate the issues.

            You need to be cautious about that. If I detect any such pattern of behaviour, I have a irritated tendency to prevent its recurrence. ]

            • Bob 11.2.1.3.1.1
              14 August 2014 at 4:56 pm

              Are you sure lprent?
              http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10381072/Hager-book-a-smear-campaign-Key
              LEGAL ACTION CONSIDERED

              Slater says he is considering legal action against Hager which may force the writer to reveal who gave him the leaked emails.

              Today Slater appeared on RadioLive where he said that Hager’s book was written and making profit from the proceeds of crime, because it was sourced from thousands of emails hacked from Slater’s email account and Facebook page.

              “We’re dealing here with Nicky Hager once again selling books and making money from the proceeds of crime, ie, hacking or stealing of emails,” Slater told Radio Live.

              Slater said a recent legal case relating to a book written about internet mogul Kim Dotcom – which a court ruled was not journalism and therefore the author could be forced to reveal their sources – could apply here.

              “I’m weighing up legal action but certainly a complaint to the police and the Privacy Commission would not be out of order.

              “And with the recent case of [NZ Herald journalist] David Fisher in the High Court where his book was deemed to not be journalistic enterprise that it was a book for profit and he has to reveal his sources – that could get very interesting for Nicky Hager,” he told Radio Live.

              • One Anonymous Bloke …
                14 August 2014 at 5:00 pm

                Yeah; let’s see what his considerations are worth shall we? The Greens already have the Police involved.

                • Bob …
                  14 August 2014 at 5:23 pm

                  Yeah, laid a complaint on the “hacking” of the Labour website, but not Whaleoil’s, no hypocrisy there!

                  • McFlock …
                    14 August 2014 at 5:29 pm

                    Um – laid a complaint based on new evidence that implicates specific individuals as being responsible.

                    Have specific individuals been implicated in the hacking of whalespew?

      • Bob 11.2.2
        14 August 2014 at 1:38 pm

        Or how about The Crimes Act:

        249Accessing computer system for dishonest purpose
        (1)Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7
        years who, directly or indirectly, accesses any computer system and
        thereby, dishonestly or by deception, and without claim of right,—

        (a)obtains any property, privilege, service, pecuniary advantage,
        benefit, or valuable consideration; or

        (b)causes loss to any other person.

        (2)Every one is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5
        years who, directly or indirectly, accesses any computer system with
        intent, dishonestly or by deception, and without claim of right,—

        (a)to obtain any property, privilege, service, pecuniary advantage,
        benefit, or valuable consideration; or

        (b)to cause loss to any other person.

        (3)In this section, deception has the same meaning as in section
        240(2).

        • weka 11.2.2.1
          14 August 2014 at 1:57 pm

          Afaik, Hager didn’t access anyone’s computer illegally.

          • Bob 11.2.2.1.1
            14 August 2014 at 3:36 pm

            I guess he would have to prove that in court, how else did he access the emails and Facebook posts used in his book?

            • Te Reo Putake 11.2.2.1.1.1
              14 August 2014 at 3:45 pm

              They were leaked to him. Nobody is claiming he literally hacked WO’s servers himself. And he isn’t going to be successfully prosecuted under section 249 of the crimes act, because he has a clear public interest defence. The situation is the same as with the Hollow Men book. He didn’t get prosecuted for using leaked emails then and he won’t be prosecuted now.

        • Draco T Bastard 11.2.2.2
          14 August 2014 at 4:48 pm

          You know, you’re just coming across as a sore loser. It appears that you want Hager to be taken to court and found guilty because he reported upon the misdeeds of the National Party and you just don’t seem to like that.

    • Te Reo Putake 11.3
      13 August 2014 at 8:32 pm

      Bugger, Bob, you must be doing it tough!

      Hager actually brings the shit right to the 9th floor. He explicitly claims that a senior member of Key’s staff broke the law in an office two doors down from the PM’s own. I sure hope it’s a case of the same ol’ Hager. How did that work out for Brash?

      40 years ago, Nixon resigned at about this point in the proceedings. His credibility was shot. Much like Key’s chances in 5 weeks, I’d sauggest.

      BTW, Hager is a journalist, in the legal sense. It’s how he makes his living. He hasn’t done anything criminal.

      • Bob 11.3.1
        13 August 2014 at 10:10 pm

        TRP – He only implicates Ede on the 9th floor, even Hager himself states he has no physical proof linking Key to any of this, only inuendo. For you that is obviously enough (has been for years), for the voting public?
        I’m not sure this is going to stick, Hager is already coping it on talk back for how he even received the emails, the same man that fought the GCSB legislation based on privacy, ha, same old ethics of the left aye, only bad when someone else is doing it! Or is it just “dirty politics” from Hager?

        • weka 11.3.1.1
          13 August 2014 at 10:20 pm

          Are you saying that Key is innocent in all this, or just that Hager has no way of proving his involvement?

          • Bob 11.3.1.1.1
            14 August 2014 at 7:50 am

            Pretty sure the laws in this country are based around the premise of innocent until proven guilty, unless the book changes that as well?

            • tricledrown 11.3.1.1.1.1
              14 August 2014 at 8:02 am

              Sponge bob so what happened when it was found a wif of involvement by the exclusive brethren!

              • Bob …
                14 August 2014 at 9:01 am

                Well the latest breaking news (alleged) is Hager has been to Dotcom’s mansion several times over the past few months and this is where the information has come from, this is also why the Labour MP’s that supply information to Slater were not named in the book. This apparently has come from an interview with Slater himself, does that make it all true?

            • McFlock 11.3.1.1.1.2
              14 August 2014 at 3:51 pm

              lol
              same old ethics of the right – if you don’t leave enough evidence to be convicted outright, you’ve not done anything morally wrong. And if you are convicted, you’re a victim of a malicious persecution, like banks.

        • Te Reo Putake 11.3.1.2
          13 August 2014 at 11:32 pm

          Only Ede on the 9th floor. Think about that Bob. His longest serving, most trusted staffer. Two doors down. Snapped breaking the law with another of Key’s trusted confidantes.The whiff alone is enough, despite what angry of Epsom says on the talkback. btw, I’m really disappointed you listen to talkback. For some reason I thought you were better than that.

          • Bob 11.3.1.2.1
            14 August 2014 at 7:56 am

            The ‘whiff’ as you put it, will be more than enough for anyone that doesn’t like Key anyway (such as yourself), for most reasonable people there actually needs to be proof of something to sway their opinion. All this book does is confirm that Key has spoken to Slater on the phone, pretty sure that Key admitted to that months ago! Not exactly breaking news.
            I don’t normally listen to the opinions on talkback, it is just a good way of judging the mood of the public and it doesn’t look like anything has changed there.

            • Te Reo Putake 11.3.1.2.1.1
              14 August 2014 at 8:34 am

              Sorry, Bob, but in politics, perception is reality. Even if it only effects the votes of 1% of people who would have ticked the blue box, that’s the election gone. Prime Minister Cunliffe. Has a nice ring to it, eh?

              • McFlock …
                14 August 2014 at 5:36 pm

                what’s the shit the tories like to say whenever key lies? “Explaining is losing”. Especially when the “explanations” don’t stack up against the emails.

        • Draco T Bastard 11.3.1.3
          14 August 2014 at 12:50 am

          I’m not sure this is going to stick, Hager is already coping it on talk back for how he even received the emails, the same man that fought the GCSB legislation based on privacy, ha, same old ethics of the left aye, only bad when someone else is doing it!

          People engaging in criminal activities don’t have a right to privacy. If they did we’d never, ever catch them.

          • Bob 11.3.1.3.1
            14 August 2014 at 8:02 am

            “People engaging in criminal activities don’t have a right to privacy. If they did we’d never, ever catch them.” Good to see you have changed your stance on the GCSB bill, I agree on this point, but I didn’t realise Hager had received a signed warrant to obtain this information? Or don’t we need a legal process when breaching the privacy of right wing bloggers?
            Or does that mean the point about Slater allegedly ‘hacking’ the Labour website at the last election is also fine by you?

            • One Anonymous Bloke 11.3.1.3.1.1
              14 August 2014 at 8:31 am

              The Police and SIS already have surveillance powers where they can get a warrant. People are concerned at evidence of warrantless illegal mass surveillance.

              Do you understand the difference between those two things? Or does your position rely on willfully misunderstanding the difference?

            • Draco T Bastard 11.3.1.3.1.2
              14 August 2014 at 9:15 am

              If I see someone doing something illegal do I have to call the police and get a warrant to stop them or do I just stop them?

              How the actions were seen is immaterial.

              And Slater acted wrong on the Labour website breach. If he had any principals he would have informed Labour of the breach, not used it to get hold of private information to release.

  12. dave 12
    13 August 2014 at 8:18 pm

    if national has used sis information this way it is corruption of the highest order they are not fit and proper people to hold public office .this is a criminal act well beyond anything banks did total abuse of power the governor general must act to de solve this government at once key must resign ! the incoming government needs set a royal commission to investigate and bring chargers if criminality is found No fucken cover up!!!!!

  13. ak 13
    13 August 2014 at 8:26 pm

    This day’s been coming for a long time. The terms “smiling assassin” and “whatever it takes” weren’t born out of thin air, and ever since a low-level operative boasted of being able to source any email, phone call or text ever written, anywhere, severe personal pain and discomfort for any left activist or even humble polemicist was imminent. Foment pain, infighting and destruction were the order of the day from a long time back: explains so much for so many, an evil ruthless narcissism almost unimaginable but now hopefully exposed in time.

  14. local Kiwi 14
    13 August 2014 at 8:37 pm

    Hey Colonial Viper see my blog above,

    This is another Watergate saga, as they were Presidents staff , and this was Key’s staff right.

    As we have the same set of circumstances, we must have the slug say as Nixon did ” I will resign effective at noon today”.

    Key had already admitted in front of Parliament and David Cunliffe when debating the Kim.com and Orivida sagas, that he had “plenty of dirt on the opposition. — Case closed “Guilty as charged.”

  15. dave 15
    13 August 2014 at 8:43 pm

    key must resign

  16. Chrissy 16
    13 August 2014 at 8:49 pm

    Here’s Bryce Edwards account of previous Jason Ede stuff, from December last year…

    http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/NZ-POLITICS-DAILY-13-dec

  17. Ffloyd 17
    13 August 2014 at 8:55 pm

    Can’t wait to read Armstrong’s next column!!!

  18. Pete 18
    13 August 2014 at 8:55 pm

    http://dirtypoliticsnz.com/

    There’s a blog to go along with the book. You can read the preface there.

    • ianmac 18.1
      13 August 2014 at 9:26 pm

      Thanks Pete. That is a great summary by Nicky and outlines the purpose, the scope, and the intent of the right dirty tricks wing. Morning Report will be interesting but this year Key has avoided interviews and got away with statements read out. But now….?

  19. Te Reo Putake 19
    13 August 2014 at 8:57 pm

    Resignation and/or electoral humiliation may not be the end of Key’s troubles:

    Crimes Act, 1961

    105A Corrupt use of official information

    Every official is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who, whether within New Zealand or elsewhere, corruptly uses or discloses any information, acquired by him or her in his or her official capacity, to obtain, directly or indirectly, an advantage or a pecuniary gain for himself or herself or any other person.

    105B Use or disclosure of personal information disclosed in breach of section 105A

    (1) Every person is liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years who,—

    (a) having received personal information (being information that comes into that person's possession as a result of the commission of an offence against section 105A); and

    (b) knowing that the information has been disclosed in contravention of that section,—

    uses or discloses that information to obtain, directly or indirectly, an advantage or pecuniary gain for that person or any other person.

    (2) It is a defence to a charge under this section if the person charged proves that the person was legally authorised to use or disclose the information.

    (3) In this section, the term personal information means any information about an identifiable natural person, including a deceased natural person.

    • weka 19.1
      13 August 2014 at 9:02 pm

      Now you’re just getting our hopes up :-p

      • Te Reo Putake 19.1.1
        13 August 2014 at 9:07 pm

        After Banks, who knows?

        • weka 19.1.1.1
          13 August 2014 at 9:45 pm

          True, although there are so many people involved and NZ is such a small place that I suspect that cognitive dissonance will be kicking in about now for many of those who should be shocked into taking action.

          • Te Reo Putake 19.1.1.1.1
            13 August 2014 at 10:53 pm

            Can I be the first to call it Slatergate?

            • karol 19.1.1.1.1.1
              13 August 2014 at 10:56 pm

              Nah – already been called that on The Daily Blog.

              And Paul Henry has just had Nicky Hager on his show. Henry, as one would expect, doing his best to dismiss the book – Hager being hypocritical about Slater using hacked emails, etc.

              Fine. let the evidence be tested. Let’s have it all out in the open.

              • Te Reo Putake …
                13 August 2014 at 11:06 pm

                Damn, you win this time Bomber Bradbury!

                I just watched a weird clip on Paul Henry’s show. He introduced a bloke as a ‘speed reader’ who had read Hager’s book in short time. In a surprise to no one at all, when asked his opinion, the speed reader said it was rubbish and wouldn’t influence a single voter. Unfortunately there wasn’t time for Paul to tell the viewers that the speed reader was Charles Finney from lobbyists Saunders Unsworth.

            • weka 19.1.1.1.1.2
              13 August 2014 at 10:57 pm

              No, you can’t, lol.

        • tricledrown 19.1.1.2
          13 August 2014 at 11:35 pm

          McCready for a hatrick Banks Key Slater

  20. NZJester 20
    13 August 2014 at 9:02 pm

    This is not the first time Tory people like those in National have misused their power to spy on their opponents on the Left and the Labour party while they hold the rains of government. You only have to look back in history to see this kind of thing has always been a part of Tory style politics in NZ. Just look at the documents declassified earlier this year about their previous historical spying. It looks like it is far from being a historical thing as it is still rife within National.
    If someone in National has been illegally accessing Labour party computers they need to be charged over it.

  21. Ex Labour voter 21
    13 August 2014 at 9:03 pm

    I thought Hager on Campbell Live was terrible – sounded like he just had nothing on these people. Quite sad really as I am sure there is plenty going on which should be exposed. Another win for the damn Nats!

    • ianmac 21.1
      13 August 2014 at 9:36 pm

      Nikki Hager is a writer not a speaker. And as he has written a book of great complexity and depth it would be hard to sum it up in sound bites straight after its launch.
      Read the book then decide Ex person and Dale from out of the Troll Reserves.

  22. Dale 22
    13 August 2014 at 9:23 pm

    Well well,the book is a fizzer! This will only send more people to whale oil. Hager can’t complain about interception of emails or spying cause he would have no material for other books. He peddles in stolen emails and interceptions. It’s like only the left are allowed to have blog sites. At least the right use their actual names and don’t cowardly hide behind fakes. I’m sure Labour uses this site to get info out to its supporters too. This I have no problem with,freedom of speech to all. Gotta love election time!

    • weka 22.1
      13 August 2014 at 9:47 pm

      “At least the right use their actual names and don’t cowardly hide behind fakes”

      Is that right ‘Dale’? lolz

      Did you read the book already?

      • karol 22.1.1
        13 August 2014 at 9:49 pm

        Actually, the preface to the book mentions right wingers using “anonymous” comments on blogs to spread their nasty smear lines.

        And the preface also mentions exactly why many left wing blog authors use pseudonyms – Slater threatening to got to a commenters employers – MSM journalists afraid to expose the WO blog for fear they will be attacked.

        • Tiger Mountain 22.1.1.1
          13 August 2014 at 11:15 pm

          Last election Whaleboil ran an anonymous “tipline” and encouraged readers to note down car registration numbers and any identifying details of people they spotted involved in election hoarding activity–stickering or altering, and he published photos and details of young female animal rights activists bordering on incitement.

    • ropata 22.2
      13 August 2014 at 9:48 pm

      BINGO! (2,3) and (3,2)
      http://thestandard.org.nz/hagers-dirty-politics/#comment-865603

      what a hopeless collection of idiotic excuses.

      do you even give a shit about the state of democracy in NZ?

      please show us you’re not just a partisan troll

    • Draco T Bastard 22.3
      14 August 2014 at 12:59 am

      /facepalm

      Hager exposes apparent criminal activity.

      That’s all that needs to be said.

      You don’t like it though because that activity is, almost invariably, carried out by National.

  23. venezia 23
    13 August 2014 at 9:31 pm

    Cannot wait to read this. I have just ordered a copy online from here:

    http://www.unitybooksonline.co.nz/

  24. weka 24
    13 August 2014 at 10:35 pm

    Danyl Mclauchlan reading and tweeting

    https://twitter.com/danylmc

    Tobacco lobbyist Carrick Graham pays Slater $6500 a month to publish tobacco industry PR without attribution

  25. Dale 25
    14 August 2014 at 12:03 am

    No. Won’t have to. It’s gonna be all over the place. What kind of bird are you weka?

  26. Rob Gilchrist 26
    14 August 2014 at 1:04 am

    My name is Rob Gilchrist. If anyone should have issues with Nicky Hagar then I’d probably be a prime candidate. If anyone should hate Hagar, again I’d be a prime candidate. It may come as a surprise to many that I neither have issues nor hate Mr Hagar. The truth be told, I have the utmost respect for him as an investigative journalist. No mater what people say about him, he is without a doubt one of the most professional investigative journalist and researcher I have ever met. I don’t write things on the internet, for many reasons, however I felt like I had to after reading some of the posts on here and other sites about him. I haven’t read the book and don’t really have an interest in doing so.

    But I’ll leave with this- Hagar doesn’t make shit up. Everything he says, writes and puts into his books, he will be able to back up 100%

  27. Tui 27
    14 August 2014 at 1:13 am

    HAGAR ROCKS!!!

  28. dave 28
    14 August 2014 at 6:50 am

    they rolled out the hoskins “there no smoking gun according to hoskins “

  29. vto 29
    14 August 2014 at 8:39 am

    “when most New Zealanders were appalled by Slater’s offensive comments about the West Coast man who died in the car crash, his closest associates rallied to support him. One of those who phoned him and commiserated at that time, according to Slater’s account of the conversation, was John Key (Chapter 12).”

    That is fucking unbelievable.

    John Key lacks basic humanity and the vacuum has sucked in evil.

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