No dirty tricks campaign, says blogger

Blogger David Farrar, who is named by investigative writer Nicky Hager as having been fed information by National government members, says there are no conspiracies behind his sources.

Mr Hager on Wednesday night launched Dirty Politics, which he says is an expose of tactics used by the Government and right-wing bloggers to undermine other political figures.

It focuses on the internal communications between well known right-wing bloggers and a network of National Party figures, including some of the Prime Minister's own staff.

The book talks about the activities and tactics that bloggers Cameron Slater and David Farrar used to undermine political opponents.

Nicky Hager said the leaked material for his latest book seemed to have been gathered when Mr Slater's website Whaleoil crashed in January.

Mr Farrar told Radio New Zealand's Morning Report programme that Nicky Hager was exaggerating the relationship between his sources, implying that ordinary conversations were more sinister collusions.

“I've always been very open about who I am, that I'm a National Party member - it would be of no surprise to anyone that people in National sometimes pass information on to people they think might be sympathetic - that doesn't mean you run with it.”

A spokesperson for Mr Key said on Wednesday night that Dirty Politics is a cynically timed attack book from a well-known left wing conspiracy theorist. He said it made unfounded allegations and voters would see it for what it was.