Saturday, 20 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|Politics

Three strikes - blogger Cameron Slater at wrong end of another defamation ruling

9 Mar, 2021 10:18 PM4 minutes to read
Blogger Cameron Slater. Photo / File

Blogger Cameron Slater. Photo / File

David Fisher
By
David Fisher

Senior writer

VIEW PROFILE

Former Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater has had a third defamation judgment entered against his name.

The High Court has ruled Slater has admitted defaming three public health experts in a sequel to a similar admission from public relations consultant Carrick Graham.

It follows two other findings Slater defamed people who were targeted through his now-defunct Whale Oil blog.

The new ruling came after Slater told the court he wouldn't mount a defence against accusations he had used the Whale Oil blog to carry out defamatory attacks on the reputations of the public health experts.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

He told the court he "consents to judgment", citing his bankruptcy and "whatever legal capacity I have in respect to this proceeding".

READ MORE
• Meet the new Whaleoil blogger - Matt Blomfield buys the website which defamed him
• Ex-pizza boss Matt Blomfield: Whaleoil and me
• Blogger, Blomfield and police - a catalogue of failure
• Revealed: Book exposes Whaleoil blogger's campaign
• Whaleoil blogger Cameron Slater loses defamation case and gets told: 'Your day will come'

Justice Tracey Walker said she accepted Slater's statement to the court as an "admission" he had published the statements of which the health professionals had complained, and that they were defamatory.

The health professionals, represented by barrister Davey Salmon, dropped their associated damages claims "in view of Mr Slater's bankruptcy". They also sought reduced costs, again because of Slater's bankruptcy.

The defamatory posts were a result of a plan by Graham and Slater to attack the professionals. Graham has said he was working to "advance the interests of industry".

Graham settled the case last week after just a few hours of the trial with a cash payment and an apology. It followed an earlier settlement between the health professional and the NZ Food and Grocery Council, which had contracted and paid Graham yet says "it did not pay anyone to write any stories on its behalf on Whale Oil, or any other publication".

Related articles

New Zealand|Politics

Simon Wilson: What lies beneath: The trial of the 'dirty politics' man from Parnell

05 Mar 06:00 AM
New Zealand|Politics

'Hit' jobs case: Apology in defamation sequel to Dirty Politics

03 Mar 07:10 AM
Business

Colin Craig awarded $325,000 against Cameron Slater

29 Jan 04:46 AM
New Zealand|Politics

Colin Craig v John Stringer defamation bout back on

26 Jun 05:15 AM

The health experts who took the case are Dr Doug Sellman, professor of psychiatry and addiction medicine at the University of Otago, Dr Boyd Swinburn, professor of population nutrition and global health at the University of Auckland, and Shane Bradbrook, currently a senior adviser at Te Arawhiti, the Office for Māori Crown Relations.

Each of the three featured in articles and comments published on the Whale Oil website which attacked their credibility and questioned their motives. Graham, who contributed to the articles and wrote comments under various pseudonyms, has said statements he made "were untrue, unfair, offensive, insulting and defamatory".

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

The finding Slater's posts were defamatory comes after the High Court found he had defamed former politician Colin Craig, who was awarded $325,000 in damages.
In 2019, the High Court has found Slater's attacks on businessman Matthew Blomfield were defamatory. No damages hearing has yet been set in the case.

 Matt Blomfield and his wife Rebecca Blatchford at their home in Greenhithe, Auckland. Photo / Hayden Woodward
Matt Blomfield and his wife Rebecca Blatchford at their home in Greenhithe, Auckland. Photo / Hayden Woodward

Slater's fall from grace followed years of enjoying a high-profile presence as a blogger and media commentator with links to politicians, including National leader Judith Collins.

It was a facade that collapsed when Nicky Hager's 2014 book Dirty Politics was published, exposing unethical behaviour and targeted "hit job" campaigns in which Slater received cash to harass people online.

Since then, the company that ran the Whale Oil blog - Social Media Consultants Ltd - has gone into liquidation while Slater went into bankruptcy. The Whale Oil website, lost through the liquidation, was then bought by Blomfield who removed all content.

Slater now writes for a new blog which has a fraction of his previous audience. It is owned by his wife Juana Atkins. Slater did not respond to a request for comment.

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Premium
New Zealand|PoliticsUpdated

Steve Braunias: The secret diary of Gaurav Sharma

19 Aug 06:02 PM
New ZealandUpdated

Firefighters save man trapped on car roof in raging torrent

19 Aug 06:01 PM
Premium
New Zealand

'Due diligence' behind five-year wait to demolish old council headquarters

19 Aug 06:00 PM
Premium
New Zealand

WorkSafe charges Kiwi energy giant over uncontrolled release of scalding steam

19 Aug 05:00 PM
New Zealand

'He is a legend': Cliff Curtis devastated by uncle's death

19 Aug 05:00 PM

Most Popular

Wiggles in NZ: Wiggles star reveals life changing hospital encounter
EntertainmentUpdated

Wiggles in NZ: Wiggles star reveals life changing hospital encounter

19 Aug 06:03 PM
Shamubeel Eaqub on 'stupid' inflation debate and how he'd fix poverty
BusinessUpdated

Shamubeel Eaqub on 'stupid' inflation debate and how he'd fix poverty

19 Aug 06:03 PM
Premium
Steve Braunias: The secret diary of Gaurav Sharma
New Zealand|PoliticsUpdated

Steve Braunias: The secret diary of Gaurav Sharma

19 Aug 06:02 PM

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