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Dirty politics :
how attack politics is poisoning New Zealand's political environment /

Hager, Nicky,

Dirty politics : how attack politics is poisoning New Zealand's political environment / Nicky Hager. - 166 pages ; 24 cm

Includes bibliographical references (pages 139-161) and index.

The rise of the bloggers -- The PM's black ops man -- Straight from The Beehive -- The crusher and the attack dog -- Simon Lusk's plan -- El Rushbo of Aotearoa -- Cash for comment -- Chaos and mayhem limited -- The many hats of David Farrar -- Sex scandal -- John Key and a member of the public -- The smiling assassin. Includes bibliographical references and index. -Following on from his book 'The Hollow Men', Investigative journalist Nicky Hager focuses on the 2008-2014 years of the John Key-led National Government partly through email exchanges between blogger Cameron Slater and National party figures. It reveals a deliberate sustained campaign of personal attacks against their political enemies, in a hidden strategy to avoid being acused of negative campaigning.

"Early in 2014 Nicky Hager was leaked a large number of email and online conversations from Cameron Slater's Whale Oil blog. Many of these were between Slater and his personal allies on the hard right, revealing an ugly and destructive style of politics. But there were also many communications with the prime minister's office and other cabinet ministers in the National Government. They show us a side of Prime Minister John Key and his government of which most New Zealanders are completely unaware. Key has constructed an easy-going and relaxed public image, declaring to the public that 'there's no room for negative campaigning in New Zealand'. The reality is very different. His government has worked hand in hand with Slater and his collaborators in a sustained campaign of personal attacks against their political enemies, a deliberate but hidden strategy to avoid being held responsible for negative campaigning. Dirty Politics continues the story that began in Hager's best-selling book The Hollow Men, investigating the way that underhand and deceptive politics poisons the political environment for everyone. If you care about integrity and ethics in politics, then this book will be disturbing but essential reading"--Cover.

9781927213360 (pbk.) 1927213363 (pbk.)


Key, John, 1961-
Slater, Cam, 1968-


New Zealand National Party.
New Zealand National Party--Public relations.


Political campaigns--New Zealand.
Politicians--New Zealand.
Blogs--Political aspects--New Zealand.
Deception--Political aspects--New Zealand.


New Zealand--Politics and government--21st century.

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