Election 2026: Journalist Nicky Hager’s book set for release

Investigative journalist Nicky Hager is about to release his latest book with just seven weeks until the election. Hager, known for books including 2014’s Dirty Politics and 2002’s Seeds of Distrust, which sent shockwaves through election campaigns, is set to reveal his work at 6pm at an event held at Unity Books in Wellington.The topic of the book has not been publicly confirmed, despite rumours growing since today’s release was announced last week.Taxpayers’ Union executive director Jordan Williams, who featured in Dirty Politics, today addressed speculation his organisation could be referenced, saying he was “flattered” to potentially be included.Williams is to appear on Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive this afternoon ahead of the book release.Hager is expected to speak about the book before taking questions from media. A livestream will be played at the top of this article.An anonymous bookseller has told the Post invoices for the book were titled Dirty Work, indicating it could follow on from Dirty Politics. The report acknowledged it was possible the title of invoice could differ from the book’s official title.Author and journalist Nicky Hager will be releasing his work at a Wellington bookshop. Photo / Mark MitchellPrime Minister Christopher Luxon on Monday said he didn’t know Hager and hadn’t read his books. In 2018, the police apologised and paid “substantial damages” to Hager after unlawfully searching his home during the investigation into the hacking that led to the Dirty Politics book.Crowds gather at Unity Books in Wellington ahead of the release of Nicky Hager's new book.The settlement came almost four years after the publication of Dirty Politics, which alleged the office of former Prime Minister Sir John Key ran a dirty tricks campaign through right-wing bloggers.Hager wrote the book after an anonymous source known only as Rawshark provided information said to have been hacked from Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater. Police launched an investigation into the identity of Rawshark after Slater complained about being a victim of hacking.That complaint led detectives to search Hager’s home on October 2, 2014, taking computers, paperwork and other material. In the settlement that followed, police apologised for a range of breaches of Hager’s rights, including wrongly using an exception in the Privacy Act to access 10 months of Hager’s banking data from Westpac.“This sends a vital message that people can share important information with journalists with confidence that their identities will be protected,” Hager said.Hager’s publications also include 2006’s The Hollow Men and 2011’s Other People’s Wars.Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.