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Revision as of 22:39, 21 November 2006 by Khephre (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)- This article is about the New Zealand based author. For the British author, see Nicholas Hagger
Nicky Hager is an author and conspiracy theorist who lives in Wellington, New Zealand.
He is best known as one of the earliest to write about the secretive ECHELON world-wide electronic spy network. In 2001 he testified before the European Parliament on his research into the network.
His book, Seeds of Distrust, claimed government officials lead by Helen Clark covered-up a release of genetically modified sweet corn. It was released before the 2002 general election, and helped make genetically modified organisms a major election issue. A subsequent Royal Commission of Inquiry found no substance to Mr Hager's claims.
In 2004, Hagar co-authored an article in the Sunday Star Times newspaper alleging that the SIS was spying on Māori individuals and organisations, including those associated with the new Māori Party, for political purposes under the codename "Operation Leaf." A government inquiry led by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security later rejected these claims in April 2005, however. As a result, the Prime Minister, Helen Clark said the allegations were a hoax and asked the Sunday Star Times that printed them to apologise to their readers. A full apology and retraction was subsequently printed on the front page of the paper.
In November 2006 he authored a book called The Hollow Men: A Study in the Politics of Deception. The book details emails that Hager claimed were leaked by the National Party. The book has been prevented from being published by an earlier court injuction obtained by Party leader Don Brash who sought to block the use for political gain of emails stolen from him.
Hager's sources are typically not identified in his works and his various assertions have been described as exaggerated and unsubstantiated claims.
Bibliography
- Secret Power, New Zealand's Role in the International Spy Network; Craig Potton Publishing, Nelson, NZ; ISBN 0-908802-35-8; 1996
- Secrets and Lies : The Anatomy of an Anti-Environmental Pr Campaign (with Bob Burton) - 1999
- Seeds of Distrust : The Story of a GE Cover-up - 2002
See also
External links
- Excerpts from Secret Power: Full text, Chapter 1&2, Summary
- Speech to European Parliament, 2001
- Uncovering NZ's new spymaster
- Sunday Star Times Hager revealed as author of Brash emails book. Retrieved 21 November 2006
- Disclosing bad science in Hager's Seeds of Distrust.
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