The Hollow Men (book)
Encyclopedia
The Hollow Men is a 2006 book written by Nicky Hager
about the election strategies used by the New Zealand National Party
during New Zealand's 2005 parliamentary election
. The book has been adapted into a stage play, and filmed as a documentary.
, 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 he was unaware that Hager had completed the book and was about to launch it. Brash claims that the emails were stolen. 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."
as being assisted by an "informal network of people from the right of New Zealand politics", including a number of ACT members, and alleges the funding of the National Party in the 2005 election was mainly from prominent New Zealand businessmen through blind trust
s. It also documents that senior National Party figures, including Brash, knew of the Exclusive Brethren
's pamphlet campaigns in May 2005, although Brash denied any knowledge of this until August. The book showed that even Brash's admissions in August 2005 were inaccurate, making his resignation inevitable.
The heart of the book is its descriptions of the National Party strategy discussions and the techniques the party advisers 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.
" and a "tissue of lies". In particular, he denied receiving a crucial e-mail on 25 May 2005 that spelt out Exclusive Brethren election plans and their co-operation with the National Party. He said: "I have no record of receiving that email. It is either total fiction or it was sent to one of the three other email addresses which I don't personally receive." Brash stated that as he wasn't aware of the email he had not "knowingly misled" the public on the matter. However, Hager's book also detailed that, on the same day as the Exclusive Brethren's letter was sent, Brash had sent another email in which he discussed the possibility of other groups funding "parallel campaigns" that would benefit the National Party. Brash wrote: "I guess the stuff which the Brethren is doing is one example".
Brash wrote a response to the book in December 2006 that claimed to show "dozens of factual errors, some of no great significance but others of much greater importance". In particular, he identified "the allegation that taxpayers' money was used to pay for a pamphlet promoting a fair tax regime for the racing industry; it was not." It was, he wrote, an example of an error caused by "having access to only part of an internal discussion." In response Hager wrote that "out of a 350 page book, with nearly 1000 detailed references, Don Brash has found two minor inaccuracies. I am happy to take his word about both of them. But neither detracts from the book." Brash's insistence that the pamphlet had not been paid for with taxpayers funds ignored that it had been prepared by Parliamentary staff, which is also a breach of the parliamentary rules.
Nicky Hager
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...
about the election strategies used by the New Zealand National Party
New 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:...
during New Zealand's 2005 parliamentary election
New Zealand general election, 2005
The 2005 New Zealand general election held on 17 September 2005 determined the composition of the 48th New Zealand Parliament. No party won a majority in the unicameral House of Representatives, but the Labour Party of Prime Minister Helen Clark secured two more seats than nearest rival, the...
. The book has been adapted into a stage play, and filmed as a documentary.
Background
The Hollow Men is based on a wide range of internal party documents, including emails, which Hager stated were leaked to him by six National Party insiders. The documents and emails were written by then party leader Don BrashDon 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 he was unaware that Hager had completed the book and was about to launch it. Brash claims that the emails were stolen. 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."
Content
The book describes Brash's rise to power in the New Zealand 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:...
as being assisted by an "informal network of people from the right of New Zealand politics", including a number of ACT members, and alleges the funding of the National Party in the 2005 election was mainly from prominent New Zealand businessmen through blind trust
Blind trust
A blind trust is a trust in which the fiduciaries, namely the trustees or those who have been given power of attorney, have full discretion over the assets, and the trust beneficiaries have no knowledge of the holdings of the trust and no right to intervene in their handling...
s. It also documents that senior National Party figures, including Brash, knew of the Exclusive Brethren
Exclusive Brethren
The Exclusive Brethren are a subset of the Christian evangelical movement generally described as the Plymouth Brethren. They are distinguished from the Open Brethren from whom they separated in 1848....
's pamphlet campaigns in May 2005, although Brash denied any knowledge of this until August. The book showed that even Brash's admissions in August 2005 were inaccurate, making his resignation inevitable.
The heart of the book is its descriptions of the National Party strategy discussions and the techniques the party advisers 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.
Response from Don Brash
Brash responded to the book saying is was a "shoddy work of fictionFiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
" and a "tissue of lies". In particular, he denied receiving a crucial e-mail on 25 May 2005 that spelt out Exclusive Brethren election plans and their co-operation with the National Party. He said: "I have no record of receiving that email. It is either total fiction or it was sent to one of the three other email addresses which I don't personally receive." Brash stated that as he wasn't aware of the email he had not "knowingly misled" the public on the matter. However, Hager's book also detailed that, on the same day as the Exclusive Brethren's letter was sent, Brash had sent another email in which he discussed the possibility of other groups funding "parallel campaigns" that would benefit the National Party. Brash wrote: "I guess the stuff which the Brethren is doing is one example".
Brash wrote a response to the book in December 2006 that claimed to show "dozens of factual errors, some of no great significance but others of much greater importance". In particular, he identified "the allegation that taxpayers' money was used to pay for a pamphlet promoting a fair tax regime for the racing industry; it was not." It was, he wrote, an example of an error caused by "having access to only part of an internal discussion." In response Hager wrote that "out of a 350 page book, with nearly 1000 detailed references, Don Brash has found two minor inaccuracies. I am happy to take his word about both of them. But neither detracts from the book." Brash's insistence that the pamphlet had not been paid for with taxpayers funds ignored that it had been prepared by Parliamentary staff, which is also a breach of the parliamentary rules.
Police investigation
Police investigated the theft of Brash's emails but in May 2009 columnist Fran O'Sullivan described it as a "farce" as police "thumbed their nose" at Brash by assigning an inept police officer who made a merely cursory investigation of "what was obviously a politically motivated burglary." An internal review of the original investigation was conducted by the New Zealand Police as a result of complaints lodged by Brash. The review concluded that the investigation was competently performed and the results correct, but was critical of some delays in reporting the results of the investigation to Brash.Adaptations
In 2007 Dean Parker adapted it into a stage play that was directed by Jonathon Hendry. It was also filmed by Alister Barry as a feature length documentary that was shown to a sell-out audience at the Wellington Film Festival on 20 July 2008.External links
- The Hollow Men: The inside story of a National Party election campaign - film release information
- The Hollow Men Alister Barry-directed documentary available to view on NZ On ScreenNZ On ScreenNZ On Screen is an online showcase of archival New Zealand television and film. The website is fully funded by NZ On Air and provides free worldwide access to NZ-produced television, film and music videos. Content is streamed and the webpages provide authoritative background information.The site...