Dirty Politics author gives his verdict
Internet-Mana pulled just 1.26 per cent of the party vote and failed to get seats in Parliament after Hone Harawira lost Te Tai Tokerau. The result puts the future of the Internet Party in doubt.
Ms Harre said it was “extremely difficult” to grow a party without MPs. “I will be on the pragmatic side of that discussion, rather than the idealistic side of it.”
Asked if this was the end of the party, she said: “I don’t know . . . The electoral environment for new parties is extremely hostile and very favourable to the incumbents.”
A string of highprofile blunders and disagreements showed poor discipline “that definitely impacted on our support”.
The party was also wounded by Dotcom’s choice not to discuss at The Moment of Truth the alleged evidence that Prime Minister John Key had lied. The event was meant to bolster support on the back of spying revelations.
“From a political point of view, it would have been far preferable if he’d
nzherald.co.nz For an interactive graphic of every vote, every seat and every booth, visit
data.nzherald.co.nz made a different decision, but he has every right to [follow his legal advice]. Of course it was disappointing, but it was also out of our hands. It definitely hurt the party.”
Ms Harre blamed the failure to change the Government on National’s successful vilification of Dotcom, and the left’s failure — Labour’s in particular — to counter it.
“That cost David Cunliffe the prime ministership . . . We failed to work smartly and strategically together.”
Mr Minto said Mana had gambled on the alliance working because it was “pure and powerless” with its then level of support in Parliament.
“It was a risk. We always knew it was a risk. We went in with our eyes open. I’m pleased we took the risk. We risked everything and we lost. C'est la vie — but I don’t regret.”
Mr Minto said the “political Establishment” lined up against Mr Harawira and cost him the needed electorate seat.
He also criticised the Herald for its coverage of the email that was to have been Dotcom’s Moment of Truth disclosure.
“I don’t think it’s fake at all.” The election turned out like it did because the attack politics described in Dirty Politics work. That’s the verdict of author Nicky Hager, and it appears to have found agreement with one of the subjects of his book, Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater.
At that point the two separate — Hager says the book was never going to reverse the impact dirty tricks already had, while Slater has posted on his blog that there was no impact because New Zealanders simply don’t care.
The accusations and issues which emerged during the tumultuous election period will dog National’s first year back in power.
There is an inquiry into the alleged tip-off which saw Slater seek and receive intelligence material through the Official Information Act. Another inquiry has been launched into allegations former Cabinet minister Judith Collins was involved in a campaign to undermine the Serious Fraud Office boss Adam Feeley.
An inquiry by the Chief Ombudsman into the handling of OIA requests is forecast to focus on a number of ministers’ offices.
Hager said the issues revealed “have to be addressed” and should be seen as “accountability” in a democracy rather than attacks on National.
“What we saw in the results was that National won, Labour was pretty discredited and piles of people didn’t vote — that’s what my book was about.
“It shows their tricks and smears and the systematic abuse of power I wrote about has a damaging effect. Writing about it is part of the road towards trying to fix it.
“These issues have begun — they haven’t ended — with the election day.
‘‘The result was always likely to be what it was.”