In what was probably one of the biggest book launches Wellington has seen, the investigative journalist Nicky Hager unveiled his latest book, “Dirty Work”, last night.
Well over 100 supporters crammed into Wellington’s Unity Books to hear their hero talk about the book.
It investigates the right-wing Taxpayers’ Union and shows how it is part of what Hager called “a spider’s web” of right-wing groups, including the Free Speech Union, Hobson’s Pledge, Groundswell, and the New Zealand Centre for Political Research.
The book centres on the Taxpayers’ Union and its executive director Jordan Williams and the organisation’s co-founder, the National Party pollster, David Farrar.
Other personalities closely linked to the organisation are the Free Speech Union former executive director Jonathan Ayling and the former ACT MP and lawyer Stephen Franks.
Ani O’Brien, who publicised Chris Hipkins’s marital problems and then launched a campaign against TVNZ Political Editor Maiki Sherman, which saw her resign, is also linked to the Taxpayers’ Union through its commercial arm, the Campaign Company and the Free Speech Union.
Hager told the packed-out bookshop that the book came after “dozens and dozens” of hours of interviews with former Taxpayers’ Union staff, some of whom described the culture in the organisation’s office as “gross”.
“Compared to my earlier books, which were based largely on leaked documents, this book is based largely on insiders; former Taxpayers’ Union staff and associated people,” he said.
“It gives a rare inside view.
“Much of the book is in the people’s own words.
“Most are National Party members.
“They have provided extensive detail that only insiders would know. They were prepared to speak up because they disliked things they had seen inside the Taxpayers Union and they were unhappy about the state of New Zealand politics.”
Hager links the Taxpayers’ Union firmly to both ACT and National, noting that a number of Taxpayers’ Union staff have gone to work for ACT.
“Year in, year out, the Taxpayers’ Union and allied hard-right groups assist the National Party, “ he said.
“The Taxpayers Union raises millions of dollars to undermine National’s political opponents, and in return, the National Party gives legitimacy to the taxpayers’ union.
“As the Taxpayers Union launched the most successful and lucrative campaign in its history, the racist Stop Three Waters campaign, Luxon declared to a Taxpayers’ Union audience, can I just say up front, thanks to you and all your members for all the work you do.
“I really enjoy what you guys do.
“In 2024, when the Taxpayers Union asked newly elected Prime Minister Luxon how it could help him to deliver his direct election promises, Luxon replied, ‘ Be louder.”
And Hager sets out the Taxpayers’ Union’s role in the anti-Three Waters campaign.
Hager writes that in a letter to supporters, Williams warned “darkly, but inaccurately”, about the consequences of Maori co-governance.
“Iwi will have veto rights over these decisions”, which would “hand unelected iwi groups the negotiating power to impose new costs on ratepayers such as water royalties”.
“The message the public heard was that Maori would be able to impose unlimited water charges on the rest of us,” the book says.
“This alarming message was reinforced by scary-looking attack graphics of Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta, ready to steal the public’s money.”
Hager says the campaign worked. In three months, an anti-Three Waters petition started by the organisation had 83,836 signatures.
“And a month later it passed 100,000. Seventy thousand of those signatures came from the five-week period when the TU began its asset grab/Maori co-governance rhetoric,” the book says.
Hager sets out the various networks that link to the Taxpayers’ Union in its anti-Treaty activities.
He says that Hobson’s Pledge paid Williams’ campaign company $60,000 a month in 2023 for it to produce election publicity. Hager says the Wellington lawyer and former ACT MP Stephen Franks was also closely involved in the race campaigns.
Hager also puts the Taxpayers’ Union right at the centre of the pile on which led to the TVNZ Political Editor Maiki Sherman being forced to resign her job.
“Ithink one of the grubbiest dirty politics attacks in recent history was a hit job that pushed Mikey Sherman out of her position as political editor at TVNZ a few months ago,” he said.
Williams’ ally Ani O’Brien was at the centre of that campaign. She has subsequently been sponsored by the Free Speech Union on a nationwide speaking tour.
However, Hager was unable to confirm two widespread rumours about the Taxpayers’ Union: that it is overseas funded and has direct links to the National Party.
Media: “Have you made any allegation in your book or found any findings that members of the National Party in senior positions were providing information to the Taxpayers’ Union to help them with their causes?”
Hager: “Not that comes to mind now, no.”
Media: “What about instruction from National Party MPs to the Taxpayers’ Union on campaigning?”
Hager: “No, because it was exactly the same in the days of Cameron Slater. They don’t need to be instructed because everyone’s completely clear about their shared mission. They don’t need to ask for it.”
Unlike his earlier political books, “Dirty Politics” and “Hollow Men”, there is no big revelation in this book or any smoking gun.
But that didn’t stop the supporters at the launch last night.
The bookshop sold out of copies.
