Blogger Cameron Slater AKA Whaleoil has been denied media privileges at today's National Party conference in what he believes is a backlash from Prime Minister John Key's office against his attacks on party president Peter Goodfellow.
Mr Slater was to have been reporting on the conference for TV3's The Nation
but yesterday confirmed his application for media accreditation had been refused.
He understood Mr Key's chief press secretary Kevin Taylor was behind the decision and said Mr Taylor had rung the producers of The Nation asking that he be taken off the programme, "which has resulted in me getting an extra slot".
Mr Slater was "absolutely certain" it was his online attacks on party president Peter Goodfellow that had sparked the action.
Mr Goodfellow is seeking re-election to the party's board this weekend but sources within National say there is some dissatisfaction with him particularly among Auckland members who want him replaced with one of their own. However, Mr Goodfellow, who had the support of Mr Key and the National caucus, was unlikely to lose is job as it would be embarrassing to the party, the source said.
Mr Slater said the matter was up to the delegates attending the conference this weekend. "There's 500 good National Party members there who will think about the good of the party and won't bow to caucus meddling and so I'm certain they'll do what's right."
While the lack of media privileges meant those behind the move were "making it as difficult as possible" for him to report on the conference, Mr Slater said he was undeterred.
"I'm an observer at the conference, I'm also a member so they can't stop me anyway. I'm a blogger, I'll blog where and when I feel like it, no one's going to tell me otherwise."
He did not believe Mr Key had any hand in the refusal to grant him media access. "I'd suggest that it is his media minders making decisions that are above their station in life."
Mr Taylor said the decision was made by the party and not himself, but declined to comment further.
