click to read the full statement at dirtypoliticsnz.com
This is a sobering development. Police raiding journalists who publish material which is politically embarrassing to the ruling party. Is this New Zealand? Not Russia or Zimbabwe?
The timing of the raid (leave aside ‘after the election’) when Hager was away in Auckland, suggests to me he may have been under surveillance. At one level that shouldn’t surprise us.
Nicky Hager’s sister Mandy tweeted tonight “I observed police as they searched – polite and respectful (and slightly sheepish) – clearly strings pulled from above #dirtypolitics” which, particularly her comment ‘strings being pulled from above’, I have to say, reminds me of: Are you dating a tyrant? Take our simple quiz to find out!
… and also: Is NZ’s international reputation as a democracy taking a pasting? which I wrote around the Bradley Ambrose teapot tape (cough) ‘prosecution’.
Nicky Hager told the media repeatedly that he had gotten rid of the leaked emails and material prior to publishing the book. And also, if I recall correctly, that he had prepared for a police raid. So at best it seems police could only have been hoping he’d been careless or foolish about material that might have exposed the ‘hacker’ Rawshark/Whaledump. Which, given his history (e.g. Secret Power) seemed … unlikely.
As a wag on Twiiter said, drily —
click to read on Twitter
So, we’re left with another possibility: The state is heavying Nicky Hager as a lesson for other journalists to observe. Chilling.
– P
and then there’s this:
If Nicky Hager broke the law he needs to be investigated.
Sure he would be a moron if any evidence is left in his house so the search seems like a dumb idea, but thats how the process works.
Your comment regarding.
“This is a sobering development. Police raiding journalists who publish material which is politically embarrassing to the ruling party. Is this New Zealand? Not Russia or Zimbabwe?”
What a load of hooey. For one the book commented embarrassing details on all fronts not just the ruling party. This has been mentioned by many commentators including yourself I believe?? who felt the same.
Who exactly laid this complaint? Any politician ? No a Blogger a attention seeking blogger. Thats all. Now you delude yourself by believing Slater is under control of the National Party. Like some episode of House of Cards. So they are the real people pulling the strings.
The high profile bombastic Book release which ensued needs higher attention by the authorities
1 due to the potential facts coming out fast to stem the perception tide.
2 the Authorities look bad if they don’t act fast because the issue is in the front line.
I still find it interesting the likes of your self are shocked regarding security violations, yet Hager is a hero for stealing and breaching security.
Oh I forgot, if its helps your team I cherry pick my way through the anti left to the often unsubstantiated deluded thread of a Pro left.
Hypocrites !!!
This is worth knowing …
http://thestandard.org.nz/john-keys-police-poodles/#comment-906366
In the first place, a ten hour search by five detectives is a complete and utter waste of taxpayer resources. Furthermore, I would suggest that this raises very serious questions about democracy and human rights in NZ. This is a very bad situation.
Curiously, some of the blame for this state of affairs should be attributed to the left – especially to the extreme left, which includes Mr Hager himself.
The recent election showed us that there is no viable opposition in NZ. The Greens are completely unelectable, because their extreme lefty economic policies would lead to the Apocalypse – economic collapse followed by mass famine and chaos.
The fact that Labour would need to share power with this collection of fanatical crazies advocating a stone age style of living makes Labour completely unelectable by association.
This sad state of affairs means that the National government could easily become arrogant and totalitarian, because no matter what they do or how badly they act, there is no electable alternative to them. This is a terrible situation for NZ to be in.
The answer, for NZ’s sake, is that Labour need to change fast, and for Labour to change substantially.
Labour should start by ruling out ever forming a coalition with the Greens, while the Greens advocate essentially Marxist economic policies. Labour also need to adopt modern, mainstream macroeconomic policies themselves.
Let us hope Labour have the courage to change, or we may be stuck with a National government forever.
Rgds,
*p*