New Zealander of the Year: Hager's election bombshell book led to three inquiries

This week, we announce the 10 finalists for the Herald New Zealander of the Year. We’ll profile two finalists each day and the winner will be announced on Saturday.

This year, Nicky Hager released a book which led to two government inquiries and a police investigation.

The inquiries were into other people - but when the police came knocking, it was Hager's door which was the first to be entered.

Dirty Politics was an election bombshell, although it has inflicted no mortal wound on anyone named in it. The book described a conspiracy of a highly dubious nature, claiming John Key's government worked with blogger Cameron Slater to dish dirt on opponents. There were claims he carried out "hit jobs" for hire, attack blogging on a commercial basis.

The details revealed in the book saw great pressure placed on Mr Key and Justice Minister Judith Collins, a friend and supporter of Slater and his Whale Oil blog. Her job went amid allegations she was working with Slater to undermine one of her public sector chief executives.

It was this which led to one inquiry, in which Mrs Collins was cleared.

The second inquiry uncovered collusion between the Prime Minister's office and Slater over the release of classified information used to embarrass Labour's Phil Goff during the 2011 election.

Labour leader Andrew Little said it revealed "the dirtiest, filthiest, grubbiest, vilest operation we have ever seen in New Zealand politics".

Mr Key said he had been cleared.

Whatever Dirty Politics alleged, there was no escaping it was based on material which was also highly dubious in nature. Slater's computer had been hacked and its contents delivered to Hager for his use.

The police carried out a 10-hour search of Hager's home, removing notes and computer equipment in the search for his source, the hacker Rawshark. The search is currently the subject of two High Court actions.

Slater has continued blogging, saying Hager's book was part of a left-wing conspiracy intended to drive him to suicide. He has blogged that he will reveal the "real dirty politics" in his own book and through an upcoming media venture called Freed, funded by tech millionaire Tony Lentino.

Nicky Hager - For journalism, publishing Dirty Politics and shining a light.