Craig takes case for defamation against blogger
The former leader of the Conservative Party, Colin Craig, has told a court he was defamed by Rightwing blogger Cameron Slater.
It is the latest of a string of defamation proceedings involving Craig to come before the court, dating back to Craig’s failed 2011 election bid.
It means his relationship with former press secretary Rachel Macgregor will again come under scrutiny, after their private communications, including a love poem Craig wrote, were read out in court late last year.
At the High Court in Auckland on Monday, Craig, who is representing himself, said the case was about reputations and the responsibilities of bloggers.
Around the time Craig was suspended as the leader of the Conservative Party, Slater posted a series of articles about him on his blog, Whaleoil.
As a result, Craig’s reputation was ‘‘largely destroyed’’ and his political prospects ruined, Craig told the court.
He said Slater had alleged he sexually harassed Macgregor, that he was a ‘‘sexual deviant’’ and was withholding payment from her in order to solicit her affections.
Details of his relationship with Macgregor have already been aired in court, when Taxpayers Union founder Jordan Williams successfully took defamation proceedings against Craig late last year.
Craig’s bundle of evidence in the latest case contained a large number of text messages between himself and Macgregor, which he said would demonstrate they had a ‘‘close and affectionate’’ relationship that she had encouraged.
Macgregor would also give evidence later in the trial, and he said they were likely to differ on several issues.
‘‘After the [2011] election night party, we went back to the office and there was an incident where we ended up kissing and Miss Macgregor removed her top.
‘‘Now, there will be a difference in opinion as to who stopped that.’’
Slater is counter suing Craig for defamation.
After three years of employment with Craig, Macgregor quit suddenly before the 2014 election, saying little to media at the time except to call Craig ‘‘manipulative’’.
She took a sexual harassment complaint to the Human Rights Commission and it was settled confidentially.