Nicky Hager
Encyclopedia
Nicky Hager is an author
and investigative journalist
born in Levin, New Zealand
and now resides in Wellington. He generally writes about issues involving intelligence networks, environmental issues and politics. He has degrees in physics and philosophy. He has been described as "New Zealand's leading investigative journalist".
Hager stood as a Values Party
candidate for Pahiatua in the 1978 general election.
The book is about the type of spying known as Signals Intelligence (Sigint) that involved electronic eavesdropping between countries. It is based on interviews with staff in New Zealand's Sigint agency, the Government Communications Security Bureau
(GCSB), who revealed the workings of the agency in minute detail: the intelligence targets, equipment, operating procedures, security systems and training, as well as the staff and layout of the intelligence agency's facilities. It revealed detail about New Zealand's participation in the so-called UKUSA Agreement facilitating intelligence gathering and sharing between the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In particular, Hager documented the US-coordinated ECHELON system, through which the five agencies intercept and process huge volumes of international e-mail, fax and telephone communications. As a result the insights into the New Zealand agency provide information about the allied agencies as well. The book makes special mention of GCSB's facilities at Waihopai
and Tangimoana
. The book contained two forewords; one written by former New Zealand Prime Minister, David Lange
and one by Jeffrey T. Richelson
, a leading author on U.S. intelligence agencies and the author of the books America's Secret Eyes in the Sky and The Ties That Bind.
Hager was one of the earliest to write about the secretive ECHELON
worldwide electronic spy network. As a result of his book, in 2001 he testified before the European Parliament
on his research into the network.
in order to win public support for logging of native forests on the West Coast of New Zealand.
, when government officials were alerted to evidence of an accidental release of genetically-modified corn plants, which was illegal under New Zealand law. The book traces the stages of industry lobbying and government decision making leading up to a decision to regard the incident as insignificant and keep it secret from the public. It was released in July 2002, ahead of the general election, and helped make genetically modified organisms a major election issue. In denying Hager's claims, the Minister for the Environment, Marian Hobbs
, accused him of writing "conspiracy theories". At a media conference of government officials convened immediately after the book's release, the Chief Executive of the N.Z. Ministry for the Environment, Barry Carbon, conceded that the book was largely accurate but disputed the interpretation of the material.
Dr Poulter, the former head of genetics at Otago University, was commissioned by Heinz Wattie to review the test results. He criticized the conclusions drawn by the book. According to media commentator Russell Brown
, "Dr Poulter isn't the only scientist to back the government view. They all have. On Hager's side, we only have the unnamed "experts" in his book. We don't know who these people are, whether they're qualified or even, really, if they exist."
The Christchurch newspaper The Press studied the official documents and concluded: "So who's telling the truth, Hager or the Government? Officials at a special briefing for journalists last week memorably commented that they did not disagree with most of Hager's facts, just his conclusions. That is unsurprising, given that the conclusions that can be drawn are not palatable ones. The documents raise some serious questions about the level of open government New Zealand really has and the strength of our much-vaunted biosecurity regime."
On the launch of the book an interview by John Cambell on TV3 "3 New Special" was held with Mr Hagar. After the broadcast complaints were lodged by the Prime Minister and several others with the Broadcasting Standards Authority. TV3 was ordered to broadcast a statement and pay a fine.
internal party documents including emails which Hager stated were leaked by six National Party insiders. The documents were said to be written by the party leader Don Brash
and a wide range of people associated with him. The book was initially prevented from being published when Brash obtained an injunction preventing anyone from publishing material from emails that he had written. At the time Brash was unaware that Hager had completed and was about to launch his book. However, on 23 November 2006, Brash
announced his resignation from the leadership of the National Party. The following day he had the injunction lifted, allowing the book to be released. Political scientist Raymond Miller wrote that "Had he not resigned, he would not have survived the fallout from this book's release."
The heart of the book is its descriptions of the National Party strategy discussions and the techniques the party advisors used to try to win the 2005 national elections. The thinking behind major speeches, media management, election advertising and election messages is shown in the participants' own words. Many of the party's previously anonymous major donors are identified and relations with them are documented. Hager assisted with the feature length documentary of the book that was released in July 2008.
". The book was criticised on its release by politicians and military personnel. Prime Minister John Key
, who had not read the book, said it was a work of fiction and said that is what could be expected from Hagar. Jerry Mateparae
, former head of the Defence Force who was appointed as Governor General in the same week as the release of the book, said that the claims were abhorrent.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and investigative journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
born in Levin, New Zealand
Levin, New Zealand
Levin is a town in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealand, and is the largest town in the Horowhenua district. It is 90 kilometres north of Wellington, 50 kilometres south of Palmerston North, and two kilometres to the east of Lake Horowhenua....
and now resides in Wellington. He generally writes about issues involving intelligence networks, environmental issues and politics. He has degrees in physics and philosophy. He has been described as "New Zealand's leading investigative journalist".
Hager stood as a Values Party
Values Party
The Values Party, considered the world's first national-level environmentalist party that pre-dated any fashionable Green terminology, was established in 1972 at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, one of its initial leaders being Tony Brunt...
candidate for Pahiatua in the 1978 general election.
Secret Power
Secret Power - New Zealand's Role in the International Spy Network, published in 1996, was Hager's first book.The book is about the type of spying known as Signals Intelligence (Sigint) that involved electronic eavesdropping between countries. It is based on interviews with staff in New Zealand's Sigint agency, the Government Communications Security Bureau
Government Communications Security Bureau
The Government Communications Security Bureau is an intelligence agency of the New Zealand government.The mission statement is given as:To contribute to the national security of New Zealand through:...
(GCSB), who revealed the workings of the agency in minute detail: the intelligence targets, equipment, operating procedures, security systems and training, as well as the staff and layout of the intelligence agency's facilities. It revealed detail about New Zealand's participation in the so-called UKUSA Agreement facilitating intelligence gathering and sharing between the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In particular, Hager documented the US-coordinated ECHELON system, through which the five agencies intercept and process huge volumes of international e-mail, fax and telephone communications. As a result the insights into the New Zealand agency provide information about the allied agencies as well. The book makes special mention of GCSB's facilities at Waihopai
GCSB Waihopai
New Zealand's Government Communications Security Bureau operates what it describes as a satellite communications monitoring facility in the Waihopai Valley...
and Tangimoana
GCSB Tangimoana
The New Zealand Government Communications Security Bureau operates what it describes as a radio communications interception facility at Tangimoana, 30 kilometres west of Palmerston North, in New Zealand....
. The book contained two forewords; one written by former New Zealand Prime Minister, David Lange
David Lange
David Russell Lange, ONZ, CH , served as the 32nd Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1984 to 1989. He headed New Zealand's fourth Labour Government, one of the most reforming administrations in his country's history, but one which did not always conform to traditional expectations of a...
and one by Jeffrey T. Richelson
Jeffrey T. Richelson
Jeffrey Talbot Richelson is an American author and academic researcher who studies the process of intelligence gathering and national security...
, a leading author on U.S. intelligence agencies and the author of the books America's Secret Eyes in the Sky and The Ties That Bind.
Hager was one of the earliest to write about the secretive ECHELON
ECHELON
ECHELON is a name used in global media and in popular culture to describe a signals intelligence collection and analysis network operated on behalf of the five signatory states to the UK–USA Security Agreement...
worldwide electronic spy network. As a result of his book, in 2001 he testified before the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
on his research into the network.
Secrets and Lies
Secrets and Lies: The Anatomy of an Anti-Environmental PR Campaign was co-authored with Bob Burton and published in 1999. It documents the public relations information put out by Timberlands West Coast LimitedTimberlands West Coast Limited
Timberlands West Coast Limited is a New Zealand state-owned enterprise based on the West Coast.It was formed to manage the native and exotic forests on the West Coast of the defunct New Zealand Forest Service....
in order to win public support for logging of native forests on the West Coast of New Zealand.
Seeds of Distrust
Seeds of Distrust: The Story of a GE Cover-up was a study of government processes and decision making under New Zealand's Labour-led government. The setting was an incident in November 2000, during the Royal Commission on Genetic ModificationRoyal Commission on Genetic Modification
The Royal Commission on Genetic Modification was established by the New Zealand Government to look into and report on the issues surrounding genetic modification in New Zealand...
, when government officials were alerted to evidence of an accidental release of genetically-modified corn plants, which was illegal under New Zealand law. The book traces the stages of industry lobbying and government decision making leading up to a decision to regard the incident as insignificant and keep it secret from the public. It was released in July 2002, ahead of the general election, and helped make genetically modified organisms a major election issue. In denying Hager's claims, the Minister for the Environment, Marian Hobbs
Marian Hobbs
Marian Leslie Hobbs , a New Zealand politician, was a Labour Member of Parliament from 1996 to 2008. She was initially a list MP and then represented the Wellington Central electorate...
, accused him of writing "conspiracy theories". At a media conference of government officials convened immediately after the book's release, the Chief Executive of the N.Z. Ministry for the Environment, Barry Carbon, conceded that the book was largely accurate but disputed the interpretation of the material.
Dr Poulter, the former head of genetics at Otago University, was commissioned by Heinz Wattie to review the test results. He criticized the conclusions drawn by the book. According to media commentator Russell Brown
Russell Brown (New Zealand)
Russell Brown is a well-known New Zealand media commentator, and the owner of the Public Address community of blogs, and writes Hard News Hard News the blog is based on the Hard News radio slot spoken by Brown from 1991 to 2002 on bFM, an Auckland student radio station...
, "Dr Poulter isn't the only scientist to back the government view. They all have. On Hager's side, we only have the unnamed "experts" in his book. We don't know who these people are, whether they're qualified or even, really, if they exist."
The Christchurch newspaper The Press studied the official documents and concluded: "So who's telling the truth, Hager or the Government? Officials at a special briefing for journalists last week memorably commented that they did not disagree with most of Hager's facts, just his conclusions. That is unsurprising, given that the conclusions that can be drawn are not palatable ones. The documents raise some serious questions about the level of open government New Zealand really has and the strength of our much-vaunted biosecurity regime."
On the launch of the book an interview by John Cambell on TV3 "3 New Special" was held with Mr Hagar. After the broadcast complaints were lodged by the Prime Minister and several others with the Broadcasting Standards Authority. TV3 was ordered to broadcast a statement and pay a fine.
The Hollow Men
In November 2006 Hager's book The Hollow Men: A Study in the Politics of Deception was published. The book details a wide range of National PartyNew Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
internal party documents including emails which Hager stated were leaked by six National Party insiders. The documents were said to be written by the party leader Don Brash
Don Brash
Donald "Don" Thomas Brash , a New Zealand politician, was Leader of the Opposition, parliamentary leader of the National Party from 28 October 2003 to 27 November 2006 and the leader of the ACT Party for 28th April 2011 - 26 November 2011...
and a wide range of people associated with him. The book was initially prevented from being published when Brash obtained an injunction preventing anyone from publishing material from emails that he had written. At the time Brash was unaware that Hager had completed and was about to launch his book. However, on 23 November 2006, Brash
Don Brash
Donald "Don" Thomas Brash , a New Zealand politician, was Leader of the Opposition, parliamentary leader of the National Party from 28 October 2003 to 27 November 2006 and the leader of the ACT Party for 28th April 2011 - 26 November 2011...
announced his resignation from the leadership of the National Party. The following day he had the injunction lifted, allowing the book to be released. Political scientist Raymond Miller wrote that "Had he not resigned, he would not have survived the fallout from this book's release."
The heart of the book is its descriptions of the National Party strategy discussions and the techniques the party advisors used to try to win the 2005 national elections. The thinking behind major speeches, media management, election advertising and election messages is shown in the participants' own words. Many of the party's previously anonymous major donors are identified and relations with them are documented. Hager assisted with the feature length documentary of the book that was released in July 2008.
Other People's Wars
In August 2011 Hager's book Other People's Wars was published which investigates New Zealand's role in the "War on TerrorWar on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
". The book was criticised on its release by politicians and military personnel. Prime Minister John Key
John Key
John Phillip Key is the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand, in office since 2008. He has led the New Zealand National Party since 2006....
, who had not read the book, said it was a work of fiction and said that is what could be expected from Hagar. Jerry Mateparae
Jerry Mateparae
Lieutenant General Sir Jeremiah "Jerry" Mateparae, GNZM, QSO is New Zealand's 20th Governor-General. He was Chief of the New Zealand Defence Force between 2006 and 2011, the first Māori person to hold the office, and the Director of the New Zealand Government Communications Security Bureau from 7...
, former head of the Defence Force who was appointed as Governor General in the same week as the release of the book, said that the claims were abhorrent.
Print media articles
- In February 2003, Hager published the first detailed description of New Zealand military contributions to the US-led military operations in Afghanistan, in a feature called “Our secret war” in the Sunday Star-Times. This included Special Air Service (SAS) forces, operation name Concord, and their part in the major February 2002 battle called Operation Anaconda); military intelligence staff based in the US headquarters at Bagram airbase (operation name Kiwi Cracker), intelligence and planning staff in the US Army Central Command in Florida (operation name Kiwi Speak), and naval and air transport deployments.
- In 2004, Hager was caught up in a hoax devised by some New Zealanders living in China. He was hired by the Sunday Star-Times (SST) to help research their claims alleging that the SIS was spying on Māori individuals and organisations, including those associated with the new Māori PartyMaori PartyThe Māori Party, a political party in New Zealand, was formed on 7 July 2004. The Party is guided by eight constitutional "kaupapa", or Party objectives. Tariana Turia formed the Māori Party after resigning from the Labour Party where she had been a Cabinet Minister in the Fifth Labour-led...
, for political purposes under the codename "Operation Leaf." A government inquiry led by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security rejected these claims in April 2005. As a result, the Prime MinisterPrime ministerA prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, Helen ClarkHelen ClarkHelen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...
said the allegations were a hoax and asked the SST to apologise to its readers. However, the SST's editor noted, as doubts grew around the story, that "Hager's involvement in the investigation was entirely at the paper's behest and has been completely vindicated by his cool-headed approach to the enquiry. He has been the voice of caution and sound advice."
- In March 2005, The Sunday Star-Times published an article by Hager about the vulnerabilities of New Zealand's internet banking services. The article resulted in interest and investigation by both consumer groups and regulators, and since that time most major New Zealand banks have adopted the recommended two-factor authenticationTwo-factor authenticationTwo-factor authentication is an approach to authentication which requires the presentation of two different kinds of evidence that someone is who they say they are. It is a part of the broader family of multi-factor authentication, which is a defense in depth approach to security...
.
- In May 2007, Hager revealed in the Sunday Star Times that a private investigation company, Thompson & Clark Investigations, had employed agents to infiltrate environmental, peace and animal rights groups in New Zealand. One of the company's clients was the government-owned coal company Solid EnergySolid EnergySolid Energy is the largest coal mining company in New Zealand and is a state owned enterprise of the New Zealand Government.The company was formed from the former government department State Coal Mines. It was then established as a state owned enterprise called Coal Corporation in 1987, and...
. Hager and Deidre Mussen revealed that a student was paid NZ$400 a month to infiltrate and report on the activities of the Save Happy Valley CampaignSave Happy Valley CampaignThe Save Happy Valley Coalition is an environmental activist movement formed with the express purpose of preventing the Cypress mine, an open cast coal mine on the West Coast of New Zealand, from proceeding....
, a group opposing a new coal mine. The State-Owned Enterprises minister, Trevor Mallard, told Solid Energy that the spying operation is "unacceptable."
- June 2008: In the Sunday Star Times, Hager alleged that Don Brash, and later Opposition Leader John Key, had secretly hired controversial Australian PR firm CrosbyLynton CrosbyLynton Crosby AO is an Australian political strategist.Having masterminded four successive election victories for John Howard, he has been described as a "master of the dark political arts," "the Australian Karl Rove," and in 2002 The Age newspaper described Crosby as "one of the most powerful and...
/TextorMark TextorMark Textor is an Australian pollster and campaign strategist. He was the principal pollster for former Australian Prime Minister John Howard....
. To date Key and Brash have refused to confirm or deny their involvement with the firm.
External links
- Nicky Hager's website containing articles, books, speeches and interviews
- EBook of Secret Power
- Excerpts from The Hollow Men: A study in the politics of deception
- Interview with Nicky Hager on World-Information.org in 2 February 2001
- Interview with Nicky Hager on getfrank on 5 February 2007.