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Scoop Coverage: Key, Whale Oil, Hager And Dirty Politics

Published: Tue 19 Aug 2014 10:28 AM
Scoop Coverage: Key, Whale Oil, Hager And Dirty PoliticsCoverage of the reaction and fallout from Nicky Hager's book Dirty Politics.
Page is being updated (from the top) as events unfold.
Post-Election:TV3 Video - Key: Ede's resignation 'the right call'

Crowdfunded Ad: 2,100 People Send Message About Dirty Politics
2,100 people have signed their name to a full-page open letter featuring in the New Zealand Herald this Wednesday [17/9/14]. The letter is designed to send a message to politicians that dirty politics is an important election issue.
Lead by members of ActionStation - a progressive, member-lead campaigning organisation - the letter is in the form of a full-page advert, the cost of which was crowd-funded and raised over eight thousand dollars. More>>
ALSO:ActionStation - Parties sent home with report cardsImage Out-Link - ActionStation on TwitterOut-Link - Wendyl Nissen: Tuning out: Dirty Politics and the blogs - National - NZ Herald NewsOut-Link - Toby Manhire: We'll laugh about this ... in 50 years - Toby Manhire - NZ Herald - NZ Herald News
10 Sept - Protesters Demand: “No More Dirty Politics”
Earlier: Grassroots Protest Outside Parliament Tomorrow
Public Health Experts Call For An Inquiry On Conflicts
A group of 33 senior population health researchers and practitioners have made public a letter they sent to the Prime Minister last week calling for an investigation into the apparent serious conflicts of interest on the Board of the Health Promotion Agency.
Board member, Katherine Rich, who is CEO of the Food and Grocery Council, has been at the centre of controversy because of evidence in Nicky Hager’s book ‘Dirty Politics’ that she has been denigrating and undermining population health professionals. More>>
ALSO:Labour - National’s dirty politics at play in Pacific communityACT - The Letter 8 Sep 2014Martin Doyle - Martin Doyle Cartoon: Keyhole surgery for votersMartin Doyle - Martin Doyle Cartoon: The Rats ruining our restaurantsMartin Doyle - Martin Doyle Cartoon: Only so much you can take Links:Cameron Slater takes court case on hacker documents: Judgments and reasons - No interim injunction against media - Injunction against hackerTV3 Video - Whale Oil drops injunction bidLiveNews.co.nz - Investigation: National’s Campaign Flying Blind – What National Fears Most and Where It Is Most VulnerablePublic Address - Privacy and the Public Interest • Hard News
SIS Inquiry Under Way: Goff Gives Sworn Evidence To IGIS
Former Leader of the Labour Party Phil Goff this morning gave evidence under oath to the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security’s Inquiry into whether security intelligence documents were leaked by John Key’s office for political purposes.
“I am today releasing my opening statement in the interests of openness and transparency,” said Mr Goff. More>>
ALSO:Inspector General of Intelligence and Security - Update on IGIS inquiry into release of NZSIS informationLabour - More evidence of the need to clean up the systemNZ Election Data Consortium - Dirty Politics, Mike Hosking Drive The Word CloudBlacklandPR - Professional politicians at heart of 'dirty politics'John Bevan-Smith - New Zealand’s ethical deficitPublic Good - An Open Government Plan developed in secrecyCirca Theatre - ‘Bombproof’ comedy takes capital by storm
Details: Government Inquiry Announcement
Prime Minister John Key today announced the establishment of a Government Inquiry into allegations regarding Hon Judith Collins and a former Director of the Serious Fraud Office, Adam Feeley. More>>
ALSO:Greens - National cannot investigate themselves - John Key attempts to whitewash Collins inquiryPublic Service Association - Collins inquiry at best a Band-Aid, a permanent fix neededMartin Doyle - Martin Doyle cartoon: No reason to get touchy-Feeley


John Key Press Conference: Ashburton Shootings, Judith Collins Inquiry
Prime Minister John Key has delayed the release of Nationals’ fiscal policy in light of this morning’s shooting at a Work and Income office in Ashburton... Key also answered questions about Judith Collins, and confirmed that independent inquiry will be held with regard to allegations made against Collins. More>>
ALSO:NZ Govt - PM announces further details of inquiryElizabeth Beattie - David Parker Stand Up: Judith Collins inquiry, John KeyLabour - Cunliffe: Letter to John Key and Commission of Inquiry TORMatthew Hooton - Personal Statement by Matthew HootonOut-Link - Will an inquiry make it all better? | PunditTV3 Video - Hacker: Slater, Collins Facebook messages authentic - Journos 'soul-searching' after latest Dirty Politics leaks - Growing concern for National's campaign
Sept 3 Polls:Mediaworks - Key Rises in Latest Poll Despite ProblemsNZ Election Data Consortium - Roy Morgan Poll September 3NZ Election Data Consortium - National, Labour Hit As Greens Rise In Latest RM PollBusinessDesk - Labour-Greens closing on National in latest Roy Morgan poll
Gordon Campbell: On John Key’s ‘blame It On Judith’ Strategy

Right now, Prime Minister John Key seems intent on limiting the scope of any inquiry into his government’s dealings with Cameron Slater. The declared aim is to make that inquiry solely about Judith Collins’ behavior with respect to the Serious Fraud Office.
Nice try, but it won’t wash. What the Dirty Politics book and other emails have revealed is a pattern of misbehavior that has involved the SIS, ACC, Cabinet Ministers and staff in the Prime Minister’s office.
Meaning: it is a problem that seems to have involved the systematic misuse of government information and procedures in order to launch attacks on public servants and political opponents alike. Finally, there is email evidence that could even entail criminal behavior. More>>
ALSO:Jeremy Wilkinson - Key Holds Emergency Press Conference In WellingtonTVNZ - Bill English: allegations against Judith Collins are seriousScoop Business - “Far more serious” allegations, says Key, as Collins resigns - Collins set to walkJohn Key statement - Judith Collins resigns as a MinisterJudith Collins - Statement from Honourable Judith Collins MPLabour - Commission of Inquiry must have bipartisan support - Evidence against Judith Collins must be protectedGreens - Independent Royal commission of inquiry only option for Key - National Party campaign thrown into chaosImage Qrious - Collins And Dirty Politics Drive The #nzpol WordcloudEarlier Gordon Campbell - Gordon Campbell on the debate, and the Collins accusationTV3 Video - Key 'completely relaxed' about SIS hearing - The bloggers infiltrating the election campaign - Cunliffe: 'This is as bad as politics gets' - Opposition: Treat Collins' office like crime scene


John Key Statement: Judith Collins Resigns As A Minister
Prime Minister John Key has announced that Hon Judith Collins has resigned from Cabinet... “new information suggests Ms Collins may have been engaged in discussions with a blogger in 2011 aimed at undermining the then Director of the Serious Fraud Office. Ms Collins was the Minister responsible for the SFO at the time." More>>
ALSO:Judith Collins - Statement from Honourable Judith Collins MPImage Saturday: Jeremy Wilkinson - Key Holds Emergency Press Conference In WellingtonScoop Business - “Far more serious” allegations, says Key, as Collins resigns - Collins set to walkTV3 Video - Collins: 'I completely refute any such inference' - Collins resignation throws campaign into disarray - Judith Collins' fall from grace - Video: Judith Collins announces resignation - Collins resigns as minister - Craig calls for code of conduct pledge - Winston 'swears' proof of Collins' plot - panel - Peters challenges Collins to sue him
Collins 'Misinterprets Media Reports': "Too Compromised To Remain Justice Minister"
Bizarre claims by Judith Collins this morning that she had been cleared of inappropriate behaviour by the Privacy Commissioner demonstrates she is too compromised to remain Justice Minister, Labour MP Grant Robertson says. More>>
ALSO:Out-Link - Office of the Privacy Commissioner | Barking up the wrong tree


Election Data Consortium: National’s Worst Case Scenario At Stage One?
A month out from the general election and ipredict traders are still forecasting National’s vote to slip below current polling levels and there is potential for it to fall further. More>>
ALSO:Image Out-Link - What share of the party vote will the National Party win at the next General Election? - iPredict
LINKS:The whale that swallowed New Zealand's election campaign | World | The GuardianDirty politics: New Zealand's own House of Cards is collapsing | Antony Loewenstein | Comment is free | theguardian.comThe hacker revealed - industries - business | Stuff.co.nzDavid Fisher: My history with Cameron Slater - National - NZ Herald NewsConservatives want assurances on National's morals before offering confidence & supply | PunditBat, Bean, Beam: The Jane Clifton continuumAnne Salmond: Royal commission needed to clean up dirty politics - NZ Herald NewsChief Ombudsman to probe ministerial offices - NZ Herald NewsOut-Link - Why the Whaledump hacker came forward - National - NZ Herald NewsOut-Link - The hacker revealed - industries - business | Stuff.co.nz

From The Scoop Video Archive: PM Says SIS "Told Me" About OIA Release
In a press conference immediately following an controversial OIA release of notes on an SIS briefing to then Labour leader Phil Goff, Key said "at that point [Tucker] told me he'd release it ...". Since the release of Nicky Hager's 'Dirty Politics' Key has denied being personally informed and said references by officials to 'the PM' being told briefed referred to his office. He now says the same about his own statement. More>>
ALSO:Scoop Video in the news - New questions over Key claims | NZ Herald News - Stuff.co.nzOriginal video Alastair Thompson - Audio: PM's Post-Cab Presser Monday, 08 August 2011TV3 Video - Housing issue nudges Dirty Politics aside - David Cunliffe: Key's SIS explanation 'defies belief' - SIS leak came from Key's Office - Goff - Key 'categorically denies' Slater OIA discussion - Video: Key faces more Dirty Politics questions
TVNZ - Winston Peters: ‘Dirty Politics' is a new lowThe Nation - Debate Between Grant Robertson And Russel NormanNZ First - “The Words Mean What I Say They Mean”Martin Doyle - Martin Doyle Cartoon: Best Song Ever Written - Martin Doyle Cartoon: Stuffing around with street names


Goff: Director’s Letter Contradicts Key’s Claims
At yesterday’s media standup, when asked on the topic John Key said ‘I wasn’t told’...
“In a letter dated November 2011 former SIS director Warren Tucker states three times that ‘in accordance with the usual practice of keeping the minister informed’ the Prime Minister had been told. More>>
ALSO:Image Link - Felix Marwick: Laying out facts over SIS documents - Newstalk ZB


Hager Revelations: Inquiry Into NZSIS Release Of Goff Docs
The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS), Cheryl Gwyn, announced she would be instituting an inquiry concerning allegations that the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) might have released official information to Mr Cameron Slater, regarding briefings provided to the then Leader of the Opposition, for political purposes...
“I am satisfied there is a sufficient public interest justifying the commencement of an own-motion inquiry into the substance of the issues raised with my Office,” said Ms Gwyn. More>>
ALSO:Craig Potton Publishing - Dirty Politics - Number One Bestseller and Back in StoresLabour - Political staff should give answers under oath - Inquiry into SIS disclosures the right decision - Collins’ actions were wrong, not unwiseGreens - Key must come clean over SIS - Green Party welcomes watchdog inquiry into dirty politicsMaritime Union of NZ - Maritime Union continues to press over dirty politicsNgapuhi - Ngapuhi Chair Says Enough of the Political SideshowOut-Link - The SIS OIA | The Dim-PostOut-Link - EPISTO! - Matthew R. X. Dentith | Dirty PoliticsOut-Link - Hacker releases more of Slater's conversations - National - NZ Herald NewsTV3 Video - 'Explosive' SIS letter - a threat to Brand Key? - SIS letter shows Key knew about Slater's OIA documents - Dirty Politics: John Key faces pressure - Video: Key didn't know Collins passed info to Slater - Judith Collins cops flak for naming Christchurch street after friend - Farrar makes changes to Kiwiblog after Dirty PoliticsMartin Doyle - Cartoon: Little Tommy TuckerBranko Marcetic - The attacks on Nicky Hager and their flaws
Gordon Campbell: No More Mr Nice Guy

When future historians seek to identify the exact moment when the prime ministerial career of John Key hit the downward slope, they may well point to Key’s interview yesterday with Guyon Espiner on RNZ’s Morning Report.
In particular, they’ll cite the broken record moment when Espiner repeatedly asked Key whether he thought the behaviour of his Justice Minister Judith Collins was OK, and Key kept on trying to ignore the question…
Key couldn’t or wouldn’t answer the question, choosing instead to repeatedly bluster about Nicky Hager’s motives for writing his book, Dirty Politics. More>>
ALSO:The Slightly Correct Political Show - Nicky Hager's first public comment on police investigationLabour - State servants behave with more integrity than their masters - Key must sack Collins over abhorrent actionsGreens - PM must take action over Collins’ Whale Oil leakiPredict - iPredict 2014 Election Update #31: Nats take hitImage via Out-Link - Twitter / DirtyPoliticsNZ: The PM's gaffes with ...Audio Out-Link - Prime Minister stands by minister and staff | Morning Report 18/8/14Steven Price Out-Link - Did Nicky Hager “make stuff up”? | Media Law JournalThe Civilian: Out-Link - John Key not concerned about Hager allegations that Judith Collins killed a man - Cunliffe releases explosive emails that suggest he has a sense of humourOut-Link - Social media election | The Dim-PostDavid Farrar Out-Link - Some changes for KiwiblogOut-Link - We can do better than this • Hard News • Public AddressOut-Link - At The End Of The Day (Bassnectar Version) by dj-pups on SoundCloudMartin Doyle - Martin Doyle Cartoon: Doing Justice to the ElectionTV3 Video - Opposition: Time running out for Judith Collins - Slater's 'feral' post still resonates with victim's family - Why is the Prime Minister standing by Collins? - National, Whale Oil behind sneaky MP photos - Dirty Politics revelations provoke media's ire


MORE AT: 'Dirty Politics' Cartoons: Whale Comes Home To Roost - Spike Mountjoy
Dirty (Politics) Weekend: Collins’ Admission Reason For Key To Act
Judith Collins’ admission that she was involved in a baseless smear campaign against a public servant is more than enough reason for John Key to sack her as a Minister, especially as she is on her ‘last warning’, said Labour MP Grant Robertson,
"Despite claiming that the evidence about her in Nicky Hager's book was ‘false’ Judith Collins has now been forced to admit that she did send information about a Ministerial Services staff member to Cameron Slater for him to use in a baseless smear campaign. More>>
ALSO:The Nation - Lisa Owen Interviews Nicky Hager, Phil Goff & Metiria Turei - Lisa Owen Interviews Whale Oil Blogger Cameron SlaterTVNZ - Q+A Nicky Hager: my source may release the raw dataLabour - Time for John Key to answer yes or no questions - Key must clarify who signed out SIS OIA - Key must name National Party staffer - PM’s Denial at Odds with National Party StatementNZ First - Winston Peters: When Spin Runs Thin - Book Opens Door to Prime Minister’s OfficeNZ Independent Coalition - Party politics well past its Use-By dateInternet Party - Kim Dotcom: Hacking Accusation a DiversionThe Howard League for Penal Reform - Howard League Taking Advice On Dirty Politics" AllegationBuilding Services Contractors - BSC president demands answers on Hager book claimsPublic Service Association - Collins must resign for leaking public servants’ detailsTimothy Crescent - Some Perspective on Dirty PoliticsGrant Duncan - Opinion: A review of Dirty PoliticsDaphne Lawless - The Whale Oil leaks: Anti-politics from aboveBen Peterson - Dirty Politics: The politics, not the dirt is the problemSpike Mountjoy - 'Dirty Politics' Cartoons: Whale Comes Home To RoostMartin Doyle - Martin Doyle Cartoon: Big Hager is watching youOut-Link - Some changes for KiwiblogOut-Link - Hacker release shows links to PM staffer - NZ Herald News - Revealed: Slater's messages with former prostitute - NZ Herald NewsOut-Link - Guyon Espiner interview John Key - Morning ReportOut-Link - PM: I should have known senior advisor accessed Labour data - TVNZOut-Link - ONE News Colmar Brunton Poll - 'Dirty Politics' snap pollOut-Link - Confidential information: the legal rights and wrongs • Speaker • Public AddressOut-Link - Cash for comment and New Zealand’s MOD squad | Griffin’s GadgetsOut-Link - The Ruminator :: The Official Information Act, Cam and meOut-Link - Did Nicky Hager “make stuff up”? | Media Law JournalOut-Link - Andrew Geddis: Cri du cœur | PunditOut-Link - Duncan Garner: Dirtiest election campaign ever - and mud sticks - Articles - Duncan Garner - Shows - RadioLIVEOut-Link - Bat, Bean, Beam: Of journalism and monstersTV3 Video - Key: Left-wing has 'given up' arguing policy - 'Whaledump' account to leak more documents - Collins gave job to Whale Oil tipster - Full interview: Judith Collins on Aaron Bhatnagar - Key dogged by Dirty Politics - National only 1 or 2 percent from losing - Gower - Key backing Collins over Dirty Politics - New political poll a reality check for National - Kim Dotcom denies Cameron Slater's hacking allegations - Slater: Death threats over 'Dirty Politics' - Cunliffe ups the ante on National - Nicky Hager book: Cameron Slater defends Judith Collins - Dirty Politics 'points out' Key's relationship with Slater - Panel


Satire: Laundering Dirty Politics
Scoop News: So this book, then. Fire away.
Prime Minister John Key, Probably: Well you have to remember Nicky Hager is a well-known conspiracy theorist.
SN: In that he is presenting evidence of people conspiring, secretly, to do things?
PMJK,P: Exactly. Point proven.
SN: Some of which sound illegal.
PM: They don't sound illegal to me.
SN: Why not?
PM: I'm not listening.
More>>


Martin Doyle cartoon: Dirty politics
ALSO: Martin Doyle cartoon: (Book) Sorrows and Joyce
Martin Doyle Cartoon: Big Hager is watching you


Gordon Campbell: On The Ongoing Fallout From Nicky Hager’s Book
Call me old-fashioned, but ad hominem attacks have almost seemed the last refuge of a scoundrel. That doesn’t mean you can’t reach a conclusion or make a judgement call – but you need to be guided by the evidence. More>>
ALSO:Image - Tim Denee, designer & illustratorGordon Campbell - Gordon Campbell on Nicky Hager’s new bookLyndon Hood - Laundering Dirty PoliticsWellington.Scoop - Dirty Politics: Nicky Hager’s new book on the Key Government launched at UnityScoop Business - Hager links PM, Whaleoil in pre-election Dirty Politics bookImages & Audio Anne Russell - Launch of Nicky Hager book: Dirty PoliticsLabour - Time Key took responsibility for Collins - Labour seeks legal advice on Hager evidence - Key has serious questions to answer on Dirty PoliticsGreens - Green Party to lodge official complaintsNZ First - A Dark Day in New Zealand PoliticsMANA Movement - Dear John - Time to Answer a Few QuestionsACT - Nicky Hager Has Found Out Politicians Speak to the MediaInternet Party - ‘Dirty Politics’ Shows Absence of Moral CompassPublic Service Association - Disturbing that PM’s office helped attack public servantsPublic Good - Lower enrolment levels: practical impact of dirty politics?WORD Christchurch Writers and Readers Festival - Nicky Hager to Discuss Freedom of Information at the WordMaritime Union of NZ - Hager investigation has revealed Ports of Auckland agendaNewspaper Publishers Association - Newspaper publishers rebuff attacks on CanonTV3 Video - Dirty Politics 'insults the public's intelligence' - Joyce - Judith Collins silent about Dirty Politics allegations - Nicky Hager book causes political muck to fly - Video: John Key talks Nicky Hager's Dirty Politics - Dirty Politics: Greens lay complaint with police - Cameron Slater: Nicky Hager's Dirty Politics claims a 'lie' - New Zealand needs to know "the other side of Key" - Nicky Hager - Nicky Hager's new book 'Dirty Politics' will 'shock readers' - Nicky Hager book shows National's 'dirty politics'Martin Doyle - Martin Doyle cartoon: Dirty politicsWhale Oil Out-Links - Apparently, shock, horror, politics is dirty - I love the smell of Napalm in the morning - I resent Hagar... - Hagers Book - Part 2 - Hager's BookKiwiblog Out-Links - I’ve either been hacked or spied on - Wouldn’t it have been a good idea to interview people before publishing? - Dirty Politics - The Hager bookThe Dim-Post Out-Link - Dirty Politics Summary - Two points about Cameron Slater. First: Who reads this?Polity Out-Link - Dirty politics: My 2cPundit Out-Link - A crazy day in dirty ol' NZ politicsPublic Address Out-Link - Confidential information: the legal rights and wrongs • SpeakerBranko Marcetic - When John Key was concerned about dirty politics
Gordon Campbell: On Nicky Hager’s New Book
The simple antidote to all this ad hominem abuse is to read the book. I doubt that many people who do read the book – and especially the emails that provide the bulk of its narrative – will feel very happy about how politics is being conducted in this country right now. That’s the thing. Hager hasn’t needed to clothe the content in a conspiracy theory: the emails speak very eloquently for themselves. More>>


Multimedia: Launch Of Nicky Hager Book - Dirty Politics
Approximately 300 people gathered at Unity Books for the launch of Nicky Hager’s new book Dirty Politics: How attack politics is poisoning New Zealand’s political environment.
The book details the extent of political dealings between the Key administration and members of the right-wing blogosphere. Hager reveals that certain media events that appeared to be isolated instances of scandal were in fact part of a systematic effort by National to create political smears against their opponents. More>>
ALSO:Wellington.Scoop - Dirty Politics: Nicky Hager’s new book on the Key Government launched at Unity
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