Later Whaleoil

Written By: - Date published: 11:07 am, August 1st, 2019 - 66 comments
Categories: Media, the praiseworthy and the pitiful, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags:

The Whaleoil site will blog no more.

David Fisher at the Herald has this background:

The Whaleoil blog began in 2005, with Slater saying it was an outlet through which he was able to manage depression.

In the years that followed, it became increasingly politicised until 2014, when the book Dirty Politics revealed it was running political “hit jobs”, targeting opponents of the National Party-led government.

The book, and a court case, also exposed Slater as accepting money for writing stories targeting individuals.

A second book published this year, called Whale Oil, described a campaign of harassment against businessman Matt Blomfield, who had successfully sued Slater for defamation over a series of articles published on the blog.

Slater is also currently party to another defamation case taken by health academics and researchers also targeted through the Whaleoil blog.

And it went out as it started.

The final post on the Whaleoil site today floated a discredited conspiracy theory that “shadowy forces conspired” to destroy the blog by hiring the hacker who supplied Dirty Politics author Nicky Hager with digital content taken from Slater’s computer.

The final post pointed visitors to a new site set up by those who provided content to Whaleoil. The contributors did not include Slater, who has told the High Court he is too unwell following his stroke to participate in the ongoing defamation case.

I wonder if this is strategic?  And I wonder how creditors feel about this announcement?  I am sure they will be interested that there is a proper amount paid for any IP the Whaleoil site may have.

66 comments on “Later Whaleoil ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Anne 1
    1 August 2019 at 11:21 am

    The final post … floated a discredited conspiracy theory that “shadowy forces conspired” to destroy the blog by hiring the hacker who supplied Dirty Politics author Nicky Hager with digital content taken from Slater’s computer.

    The favourite attack line of guilty nut-bars is to project their own despicable conduct onto the shoulders of their victim/victims or those who seek to rectify the damage they have wreaked. Example – Nicky Hager.

    • Anne 1.1
      1 August 2019 at 1:05 pm

      Oops, on re-reading my post, I didn't mean to infer Hager is a nut-bar… rather the ne'er do wells from the former blog-site called Whale Oil. 😯

    • lprent 1.2
      1 August 2019 at 3:51 pm

      It has always been a bit of joke to me that Cameron Slater and co seem to think that there is a shadowy conspiracy targeting them. There isn’t. At least not a conspiracy.

      There are quite lot of people who despise them for being complete arseholes and who are willing to put the boot in if given an opportunity. I’m one of them, but I’ll only do things if they are fully legal.

      It doesn’t surprise me that someone with actual skills eventually got pissed off enough to have a go at the site. It crossed my mind a few times. But I haven’t hacked into a system unlawfully since university the first time in about 1980 (and those were different days – it was actually encouraged then). I just stop people doing it to systems I’m in control of.

      However it was pretty obvious from just looking Whaleoil remotely and everything to do with Cameron was that it was swiss cheese and completely incompetent. Even after he dropped the drupal, he never seemed to have secured his wordpress either – and that was well before the hack. After the hack it got a lot better when I scanned it. But I put most of that down to cloudfront.

      But the damage that the Cameron Slater, the idiot fuckwit, managed to do to others was significiant. It was only a matter of time before someone tore his system and world apart.

      I did my bit in making sure that, when inevitable eventually happened, that those doing doing their journalism and cases received as much help as possible from me. But it wasn’t a ‘conspiracy’. It was almost entirely citizens doing their civic duty and putting a mad dog down that brought him down. If the hack hadn’t happened then the same thing would have occurred anyway – for instance the Blomfield case was underway well before the hack.

      More than the police managed to do.

      • Anne 1.2.1
        1 August 2019 at 7:18 pm

        More than the police managed to do.

        The police response to the whole Dirty Politics saga was diabolical!

        It still gobsmacks me to think they set upon the whistle blower with all guns blazing while leaving alone the characters – of which Slater was the principle – who were responsible for the sometimes violent and unlawful harassment of individuals and the slanderous claims against people who had done nothing to deserve it. And they were getting paid to do it by scumbags out for some perceived revenge.

        It confirmed for me that when it comes to politically motivated crimes the police show a bias towards the right-wing status quo and will turn a blind eye to their criminal behaviour, while at the same time squashing attempts by the victims who try to seek justice. The hoops they put Blomfield through during his fight for justice is a case in point and he wasn't even a political person.

        • Sacha 1.2.1.1
          1 August 2019 at 7:59 pm

          There seemed to be something more direct than political bias driving the police's relationship with Slatter. Something we may never find out about.

          • Anne 1.2.1.1.1
            1 August 2019 at 8:24 pm

            Political interference? That was my suspicion at the time. Slater is the son of John Slater who was the Auckland regional National Party chairman during the Muldoon years and who later became the Party president. He had lots of contacts in high places. Add to that John Key found Slater and his blogsite a useful tool for stories that the MSM woudn't touch – at least until the publication of DP at which point he dropped Slater like a hot cake.

            Bear in mind a former SIS director was duped into providing Slater with top secret material about Phil Goff which put him in a bad light. It turned out to be a load of hogwash and a few years later the current director issued an apology to him.

      • tc 1.2.2
        2 August 2019 at 1:08 pm

        Nationals police force. 81 bok tour showed their true colours.

      • Instauration 1.2.3
        2 August 2019 at 8:44 pm

        Yes incompetent

        In the "Gotcha" days – pre the Cactus split, all images had numerically incremental filenames.

        wget n+1

        Have archived all.

        Includes Helen photo-shopped as a "Target"

        Does Cameron still have a firearms license ?

        thewild

        • Instauration 1.2.3.1
          2 August 2019 at 9:04 pm

          Like – mental health / depression, issues – revealed upon renewals ?

  2. Sanctuary 2
    1 August 2019 at 12:02 pm

    A transparent attempt to save something from the impending court orders. Slater must think judges are stupid, or perhaps his delusions against the day of his Götterdämmerung need to be nursed for a few more months.

    • lprent 2.1
      1 August 2019 at 4:04 pm

      He really does seem to think like that. I've been around him a few times in court (and more with his dimwitted legal adviser Dermot Nottingham). It was pretty clear that both of them were completely unaware that it simply didn't matter how much they tried to obscure, conceal, lie and obstruct that the legal system just keeps rolling on and exposes everything.

      That their actions just made things worse because it mounts up legal bills that eventually they’re responsible for.

      All their dimwitted tactics and conspiring does is to make people willing to make damn sure that they don’t get an opportunity to do that kind of crap to someone else.

    • Instauration 2.2
      2 August 2019 at 8:55 pm

      CIV-2016-404-1312 [2019] NZHC 1666

      Slater was compelled to appear at the Auckland High Court, 26 July 2018.

      Did he ?

  3. Sacha 3
    1 August 2019 at 12:32 pm

    How much is a digital begging bowl worth these days?

  4. Dukeofurl 4
    1 August 2019 at 12:41 pm

    I notice its the same old 'authors' including one called WH. Chris Trotter is still 'trotting on' there

    In reality its just a rebranding as they are saying existing subscribers can continue.

    • Shadrach 4.1
      1 August 2019 at 12:47 pm

      To be fair the new site has a much better look and feel than the old one.

      Is Chris Trotter actually contributing, or are his blogs at Bowalley Road just being 're-posted' by WO?

      • roblogic 4.1.1
        1 August 2019 at 1:16 pm

        the new site will nor get anywhere near the traffic of whaleoil. its snazzy design is slow to load and confusing- not chronological. (same template as the Daily Blog) and most of the content is paywalled. echo chamber for delusional Act voters

        • Shadrach 4.1.1.1
          1 August 2019 at 1:55 pm

          I've just had a good run through the site and I'm not seeing any speed issues (I'm using Edge as my browser on a fibre Broadband connection). Also there are very few posts that are paywalled. The design/layout is very subjective, but I will say that what they have chosen is quite contemporary – as you say it is similar to TDB.

      • Chris 4.1.2
        2 August 2019 at 10:33 am

        But it's the same sycophantic idiots, including Slater's wife, trying to peddle the same trash as their idiot boss. Whaleoil lasted as long as it did because it was run by a psychopath. The psychopath's gone and there's little left. They're no doubt excited right now about their attempt at a new beginning but it's only a matter of time for them to realise the emptiness of their pursuit and that they're on a hiding to nowhere. I give 'em less than six months.

        • Shadrach 4.1.2.1
          2 August 2019 at 12:39 pm

          Much of what you say is true, but I give them more 'legs' than that. They still appear to have a solid support base. They also seem to have found the money from somewhere to build the new site?

        • Anne 4.1.2.2
          2 August 2019 at 6:33 pm

          Whaleoil lasted as long as it did because it was run by a psychopath.

          Anyone who has ever been on the receiving end of a psychopath will know how amazing it is they are able to dispense their particular form of chaos and criminal behaviour without intervention from the 'powers that be' including the police.

          I've not yet figured out why. Maybe someone can enlighten me. 🙂

        • Instauration 4.1.2.3
          2 August 2019 at 11:09 pm

          Freed from Antonio – Juana (SB) – ambitions diminished ?
          Beside the seaside – beside the sea – Großvater

    • greywarshark 4.2
      1 August 2019 at 12:53 pm

      Chris Trotter was born in 1956 so will have to go a few more years till retirement. I understand that he earns his own living, therefore he may have to lie down with dogs like Whaleoil or its successor at times. He would lift their IQ and EQ by some deciles. Also if he is involved with a wide group of people he gets to know what is going on, and a feel for the zeitgeist. It isn't enough for a commenter at his level to spout out opinions like the right wingers, Mike Hosking, whatsisname Hooten etc. We get more thought from Chris Trotter than they have in their big toes which they use to kick ideas off-side with.

      • Chris 4.2.1
        2 August 2019 at 10:40 am

        Whaleoil and now this latest outfit has Trotter write for them for the credibility that gives them, including the times when they can say “there, even the left thinks it’s a stupid idea.”

    • lprent 4.3
      1 August 2019 at 3:52 pm

      CT gets paid to write.

  5. Professor Longhair 5
    1 August 2019 at 2:04 pm

    I understand that he earns his own living, therefore he may have to lie down with dogs like Whaleoil or its successor at times.

    ??? He's superior to Whaleoil and his cronies, is he? So who's this laughing his head off at the suffering of a journalist in political asylum in 2013?

    SUSAN BALDACCI: Julian Assange is a little bit paranoid.
    JIM MORA: Oh yes? Hur, hur, hur, hur!
    SUSAN BALDACCI: Yeah, he claims that being holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy, he is deprived of his human right of getting enough sun.
    MORA: Is it a human right to get enough sun?
    SUSAN BALDACCI: That’s what he claims! He claims that being not allowed to leave London is violating his “human rights”.
    MORA: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
    LISA SCOTT: Ha ha ha ha ha ha!
    CHRIS TROTTER: Haw haw haw haw haw!
    SUSAN BALDACCI: He thinks he should be allowed out of his Ecuador embassy hideout to sunbathe.
    MORA: He can get out on the balcony, where he gave that speech!
    LISA SCOTT: Yeah! Ha ha ha ha ha!
    CHRIS TROTTER: Yeah! Ha ha ha ha ha! Or get him a sun lamp! THAT’s what he needs!
    LISA SCOTT: Ha ha ha ha ha!
    SUSAN BALDACCI: He he he he he!
    TROTTER: I suspect the ambassador’s just sick of the sight of him! “Are you ever going to LEEEEAAAVE?”
    MORA: Sun lamp! Get him a sun lamp!!!
    LISA SCOTT: Ha ha ha ha ha!
    MORA: Back after the news!

    https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/01/an-unusually-inane-and-depraved-edition.html

    Also if he is involved with a wide group of people he gets to know what is going on, and a feel for the zeitgeist. It isn't enough for a commenter at his level to spout out opinions like the right wingers, Mike Hosking, whatsisname Hooten [sic] etc.

    Ignorant and nasty as they obviously are, have Hosking or Hooton expressed anything in a windier or more disgusting fashion than Trotter did when he bloviated a defence of the Deep South jury that had exonerated the killer of Trayvon Martin?

    https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/01/chris-trotter-reckons-zimmerman-jury.html

    We get more thought from Chris Trotter than they have in their big toes which they use to kick ideas off-side with.

    Really?

    • Sacha 5.1
      1 August 2019 at 2:20 pm

      How come you do not just login under the one username?

      • Poission 5.1.1
        1 August 2019 at 2:22 pm

        You recognized the music?

      • David Mac 5.1.2
        1 August 2019 at 2:36 pm

        Astounds me too, there are few better ways to destroy credibility than pretend to be someone else. Closely followed by attempting to deny a person their opinion with nothing more than your own opinion.

        I generally don't regret starting a Trotter piece. I enjoy the political writers that prompt me to question where I stand.

        • Morrissey 5.1.2.1
          1 August 2019 at 5:08 pm

          there are few better ways to destroy credibility than pretend to be someone else.

          How about if you join in with a mob laughing at the suffering of a political prisoner? Or how about if, following an outrageous decision by a Deep South jury after the murder of another African-American youth, you pompously admonish weak and namby-pamby human rights obsessives that they "have, even in this case I think, to trust the jury"?

          https://morrisseybreen.blogspot.com/2018/01/chris-trotter-reckons-zimmerman-jury.html

          Surely that kind of thing is more destructive of one's credibility than wearing a mask occasionally.

        • Gabby 5.1.2.2
          2 August 2019 at 10:39 am

          I tend to wonder what bunch of shmucks he's trying to prod into risky action while cheering safely from the sidelines. Like he'd risk his precious toe kicking anything.

      • Instauration 5.1.3
        2 August 2019 at 10:01 pm

        Fidelity Life Assurance (messrs Whale, et-al)

        Assured Slater's income during – "depression"

        http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2998740/Blogger-takes-on-insurance-firm

        Will Cameron and Juana ever achieve an insurable status ?

        Will Cameron ever be able to tick the " No criminal conviction" box on the AU arrival form when he visits his brother ?

        The long queue for you !

    • greywarshark 5.2
      1 August 2019 at 4:35 pm

      Cut your hair you're not Einstein. 2013 and you heard something that was satirical, and you being so pure that you are almost a saint wouldn't have a clue as to the ways of the world and took offence. I hope you are getting looked after well as most people have to harden up a little and learn to keep schtum sometimes. But not you St Prof. and with your little bag of faux pas trotting around to leave deposits on everybody's doorsteps till the year dot. You would make me sick but I can't be bothered.

      • Morrissey 5.2.1
        1 August 2019 at 4:58 pm

        2013 and you heard something that was satirical,

        Trotter laughing at the suffering of Julian Assange was satirical, was it? And his endorsement of that Deep South "jury" that acquitted George Zimmerman: that was satire as well? And the windy admonition of anyone foolish enough to speak out against it: that was also Trotterian satire? Thanks for that.

        and you being so pure that you are almost a saint wouldn't have a clue as to the ways of the world and took offence.

        I don't think the Professor is a saint, Mr. Shark—hell, if he was, he wouldn't have lost the job of a lifetime tutoring at that exclusive girls' school in Switzerland and be forced to work as a stand-up comic on Turkish cruise ships.

        But not you St Prof. and with your little bag of faux pas trotting around to leave deposits on everybody's doorsteps till the year dot.

        Oh, so it was a faux pas when Trotter roared with laughter, then hilariously yelled "Get him a sun lamp!" and then capped it off by brilliantly imitating Speedy Gonzales with the following rib-tickling classic: “Are you ever going to LEEEEAAAVE?” It was all…. satire. Just like his advice to wet liberals in 2013: "I think all this talk about the jury is most unfortunate. You have, even in this case I think, to trust the jury." Satire. He's a regular Mort Sahl, all right.

        You would make me sick but I can't be bothered.

        I can give you what you want, Shark—but you gotta come back for more.

    • tc 5.3
      2 August 2019 at 1:12 pm

      Trotter is the tame lefty for 'balance' and is establishment through and through IMO.

      Likes the sound of his own voice lecturing folk to sleep.

  6. woodart 6
    1 August 2019 at 4:35 pm

    good point about creditors to whaleoil. always interests and amuses ,when those who spout about personal responsibility, cut and run, any leave others holding useless markers.

  7. Jess NZ 7
    1 August 2019 at 4:38 pm

    On twitter, there are several abused people celebrating the demise of WOil, however limited. One in particular hoped the defamatory material was going to disappear from Google searches, but I don't know…

  8. Sacha 8
    1 August 2019 at 5:39 pm

    A suitably blunt wrap-up of the blubberpit: https://thespinoff.co.nz/media/01-08-2019/rip-whaleoil-net-nz-2005-2019/

    If it is to be remembered for anything, let it be for making politics a crueler, and more viscerally hateful arena. May we never see its like again.

  9. Robert Guyton 9
    1 August 2019 at 6:47 pm

    Bye.

  10. Hamish Stevenson 10
    1 August 2019 at 6:51 pm

    Whaleoil began as an outlet through which Slater could manage depression. Well, it seems depression became Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

    • Sacha 10.1
      1 August 2019 at 6:54 pm

      began as an outlet through which Slater could manage depression

      That's the claim now, sure. Wonder if MSD ever investigated his income while on the sickness benefit?

  11. Stuart Munro. 11
    1 August 2019 at 6:57 pm

    His many victims, including the Hall family of Greymouth, will be feeling slightly vindicated. It was no ornament to NZ, and no use except to unusually seedy politicians who used it to extend their term beyond their popular mandate.

  12. mosa 12
    1 August 2019 at 8:13 pm

    This organisation had friends in high places and i don’t think we will ever know the full extent of what else was done and contemplated to attack their enemies had the last gang of crooks carried on for three more years.

    Judith Collins it must be remembered was an active participant in what whaleoil was doing here and used these dirty tricks to maximum advantage as did Key-Eade and others.

    Not since Muldoon have we seen this level of manipulation and character assassination in our politics ( Douglas destroying Lange aside )

    The most disturbing is the MSM and the infiltration of this poison in our fourth estate and that they allowed themselves to be used as Key and others attack squad in our countries media.
    Of course it suited these media organisations perfectly well as a mouth piece for National and its friends.
    It is utterly reprehensible and yet the main protagonists are still in positions of authority and want to be PM !!!

    Slater may have been consumed by the fire he started but there is still more left too burn and Judith has the petrol and matches.

    https://thedailyblog.co.nz/2019/08/01/the-whaleoil-blog-is-finally-dead-reflecting-on-its-impact-over-nz-politics

  14. Paul Campbell 14
    1 August 2019 at 9:58 pm

    I hope the creditors realise that the oily email archives (of which rawshark only showed us a small part) have some value, not only to the general public but also to those still involved in court cases with Slater (and other defendants who still have the resources to continue the defamation cases).

    And TheBFD – Big Fucking Deal (rolls eyes)

  15. Pete George 15
    2 August 2019 at 8:33 pm

    Posted on the Whale Oil website tonight:

    It is the liquidator's opinion that the director of Social Media Consultants Limited, Juana Atkins or someone directed by her has illegally used the customer database for the benefit of another business entity.

    This appears on the face of it to have been done for the purpose of misappropriating the company’s goodwill and causing the company loss, therefore breaching the duties as a director to preserve the assets of the company for the benefit of creditors.

    The Whale Oil blog and everything associated to the blog remains the property of Social Media Consultants Limited (in liquidation).

    • Shadrach 15.1
      2 August 2019 at 9:17 pm

      Yes just noticed that too. Note the final paragraph of what MS wrote in the post.

      The plot thickens!

    • Muttonbird 15.2
      2 August 2019 at 9:22 pm

      That is outstanding. They couldn't even migrate their users without breaking the law.

      I had a pretty good day – that has made it better.

    • Sacha 15.3
      2 August 2019 at 9:38 pm

      Thank you.

    • Paul Campbell 15.4
      2 August 2019 at 11:03 pm

      Strangely that's what's on https://www.whaleoil.co.nz/, the old site is still on https://www.whaleoil.org.nz/.

      whaleoil.co.nz is sitting on freeparking.co.nz

      whaleoil.org.nz is sitting on an Aussie registrar http://www.instra.com

      As much as I'd like this to be real I suspect hijinks

      • Pete George 15.4.1
        3 August 2019 at 6:25 am

        whaleoil.co.nz seems to be under the control of the liquidator Corporate Restructuring Limited, who are domain registrant. That will be why the message is there. They are also registrant of whaleoil.nz

        Those involved with WO transferred everything to whaleoil.net.nz (whaleoil.co.nz was redirecting there until this message appeared from the liquidator). Regan Cunliffe, a long time associate of Slater, is registrant. Same for whaleoil.org.nz. Technical contact is Andrea Parkes. She is also the registrant of thebfd.co.nz which they have now transfered everything to.

        • lprent 15.4.1.1
          3 August 2019 at 7:56 am

          Just looked at it this morning.

          • Couldn't see the OA message you described.
          • The formating on whaleoil.co.nz & whaleoil.net.nz has turned to shite. whaleoil.org.nz is offline as is whaleoil.nz.
          • whaleoil.co.nz and whaleoil.nz are in corporate restructuring's name. .net.nz and .org.nz in Regan Cunliffe's name (andrea parkes as tech contact).
          • thebfd.co.nz is in andrea parkes name and was registered in May.
          • thebfd.nz got registered on the 1st August by someone else. Maybe an extort?

          I have no idea why they think that moving to a new site isn't just going to annoy the courts, creditors, and the OA.

          I'm off work for a week as an R&R. If the OA is having problems, I'd be happy to help secure the whaleoil site and the domains associated with it. I'd happily donate my time to lock out miscreants.

          • Pete George 15.4.1.1.1
            3 August 2019 at 8:11 am

            "Couldn't see the OA message you described."

            That's odd. It still comes up for me, but someone else says they can't see it either.

          • Paul Campbell 15.4.1.1.2
            3 August 2019 at 1:12 pm

            Looks like someone's slowly taking whaleoils down, .co.nz has the warning on it, .org.nz is now down (well the server is there but it's timing out), .net.nz still has the original content on it

          • Paul Campbell 15.4.1.1.3
            3 August 2019 at 1:16 pm

            thebfd.com belongs to "American LowLife" – at least they admit to who they are

          • Paul Campbell 15.4.1.1.4
            3 August 2019 at 1:58 pm

            BTW there's a strange conflict of interest(s) here – the Receiver is duty bound to discover all the creditors (and treat them equally) and the paid members are in fact (very minor) creditors – they're due refunds (or fractions there of, depending on the actual assets of the wound up corporation which are likely tiny).

            So the whaleoil memberships are strangely both liabilities and assets – assets because they are essentially 'good will' (which amounts to what the oily site really took) and business knowledge that could be sold – say to another right wing web site, political consultants (of any stripe), to advertisers looking for the right wing conspiracy demographic (qanon for example might want them, or a maga hat company).

            On the other hand the paid up members however probably identify themselves as members of the community that's moved over to the new oily place and are glad their memberships have been moved over there, and probably have it in for the Receiver (who's really only doing their, politically neutral, legally defined job) and maybe would like to stick it to them by claiming their membership dues back.

            Interestingly the new oily web site seems to contain whaleoil content (back to Aprilish), I wonder how much of this really belongs to the Receiver

            • lprent 15.4.1.1.4.1
              5 August 2019 at 10:01 am

              Especially since the OA is in fact working on the behalf of the creditors owed (at present) $660k.

              https://www.insolvency.govt.nz/support/about/news-and-other-notices/auckland-accountant-sentenced-to-three-years-imprisonment-for-bankruptcy-offences/

              In sentencing, Judge Kevin Glubb described the offending as involving a high level of premeditation and planning. He found that Mr Clarke had embarked on a deliberate course of conduct intended to frustrate the Official Assignee and prevent the distribution of assets to creditors.

              Judge Glubb noted that Mr Clarke has never shown any remorse for his offending. He continues to refuse to co-operate with the Official Assignee and blames the Official Assignee for failing to understand his situation.

              Doesn’t that sound just like a Cameron Slater line..

              Perhaps someone should go and inform the Spanish Bride of her obligations as (for a time) the final former sole director of the holding company for the whaleoil site.

The server will be getting hardware changes this evening starting at 10pm NZDT.
The site will be off line for some hours.