Nicky Hager releases ‘Dirty Work’ exposing Taxpayers’ Union

Investigative journalist Nicky Hager has released a new book, ‘Dirty Work’, which serves as an exposé of the Taxpayers’ Union (TU). Hager describes the organization as a front for the radical right in New Zealand. He alleges that the TU utilized anti-Māori rhetoric as a political tool, specifically during its ‘Stop Three Waters’ campaign, and played a significant role in shifting the 2023 election toward the right.

The book claims that political leaders from the Act and National parties pivoted toward this rhetoric to secure votes. Hager identifies co-founders Jordan Williams and David Farrar, along with the organization Hobson’s Pledge, as key figures in what he describes as a campaign of racist politics and the manipulation of public perception through the exploitation of declining traditional media and unregulated social media.

In response to the announcement, Jordan Williams characterized the book as a ‘full frontal attack’ on the Taxpayers’ Union and its leadership, questioning Hager’s journalistic integrity. Additionally, discussions surrounding the book have raised questions regarding the organization's funding sources and its potential ties to tobacco industry lobbying.