Friday, 19 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
New Zealand

Hager in Venice for art project

1 May, 2015 05:00 PM3 minutes to read
The art project takes its title from Nicky Hager's 1996 book. Photo / Christine Cornege

The art project takes its title from Nicky Hager's 1996 book. Photo / Christine Cornege

NZ Herald

Investigative journalist Nicky Hager is taking a break from writing about dirty politics and secret power in New Zealand. He is in Venice in his new temporary role as adviser and fact-checker for the NZ At Venice Biennale 2015 project which opens next Tuesday. It is called Secret Power.

The project, by Berlin-based Auckland artist Simon Denny, takes its title from Hager's 1996 book which exposed for the first time the machinations of New Zealand's Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) and its role in the Five Eyes security partnership.

An image from Secret Power, Simon Denny's installation for the New Zealand pavilion at this year's Venice Biennale.
An image from Secret Power, Simon Denny's installation for the New Zealand pavilion at this year's Venice Biennale.

Denny's installation, in Venice's Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana on San Marco Square and in Marco Polo Airport's arrival halls, is inspired by the material released from 2013 onwards by former National Security Agency (NSA, of America) contractor Edward Snowden, who is now exiled in Russia. Denny's Secret Power focuses on the way the world is represented in state-produced documents in the post-Snowden era and the relationship between knowledge and power.

"We've been communicating by Skype, email and in person, when Simon was over here, it's been a year now," said Hager, just before flying off to Europe last week. "He was on track with his own ideas before Creative New Zealand [CNZ] thought of asking me to work with him ... I have been through lots of stages of it, talking things over with him.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"What they want me there for is because Simon is going to be facing international media and it's about a really specific topic. They wanted someone there so if he is challenged about some facts, he will have the support he needs."

The Marciana Library is home to a priceless collection of ancient maps and archives.

"The library is very much about how the world was when Venice was at the height of its power as a naval empire," said Hager. "That comparison is very much on Simon's mind."

Hager's appointment attracted some criticism by Biennale patrons such as Dame Jenny Gibbs, who diverted her funding, saying she did not support his involvement.

"My only worry was that I didn't want something to do with me distracting from Simon's work and I don't think it has," said Hager.

"The weird thing about my work is that I'm into trying to be as fair and factual as I can and so often when you do political things you are met with unreasonable personal attacks.

Related articles

New Zealand|Politics

GCSB's secret Bangladesh spy mission

15 Apr 05:00 PM
New Zealand|Politics

NZ link to hardline forces

15 Apr 05:00 PM
New Zealand|Politics

Eye spy: How and why?

18 Apr 05:00 PM
New Zealand

'Don't expect your friends to spy'

19 Apr 01:00 AM

"I guess I have just got used to the way some people act."

NZ at Venice commissioner Heather Galbraith said Denny's project logo features a map from Hager's book, showing New Zealand at the centre of the Pacific Rim region watched by the GCSB.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

"There are definitely key pieces of information from Nicky's book ... integrated within the project.

"Nicky is a specialist content adviser ... he has been helping Simon with information and reading at the very early stage and at the latter stage much more ... as a fact-checker.

"This subject matter is evolving all the time and Nicky has kept up with the play in terms of international trends and information.

"We don't want to enter this very public forum in a way that is ill-informed. It has been really important to provide Simon with the specialist advice he needs."

CNZ has put in $700,000 over two financial years to Secret Power, plus staff time and resources, with partners, sponsors and patrons donating at least $575,000. Hager gets $8000 plus flights and accommodation.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Local Focus: Graeme Taylor on Candidate Camera

18 Aug 11:14 AM
New Zealand

Live: Army evacuating residents near Nelson over slips, high tide fears

18 Aug 09:00 AM
New Zealand|Crime

Armed police respond to 'serious assault' in Otahuhu

18 Aug 08:46 AM
New Zealand

Waikato Hospital ward in lockdown after Covid spreads

18 Aug 05:30 AM
New Zealand|Crime

Judge changes little boy's name to avoid links to criminal dad

18 Aug 08:00 AM

Most Popular

Live: Army evacuating residents near Nelson over slips, high tide fears
New Zealand

Live: Army evacuating residents near Nelson over slips, high tide fears

18 Aug 09:00 AM
Judge changes little boy's name to avoid links to criminal dad
New Zealand|Crime

Judge changes little boy's name to avoid links to criminal dad

18 Aug 08:00 AM
Seally season: Seal chases cat into marine biologist's lounge
New Zealand

Seally season: Seal chases cat into marine biologist's lounge

18 Aug 06:18 AM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP