Dirty Work

by Nicky Hager

Twelve years after they were exposed and discredited in the book Dirty Politics, some of the most cynical people in New Zealand politics are back. The epitome is Jordan Williams, with his abysmal attitudes to women, morality-free fundraising as a lobbyist for the tobacco industry and – worst and most destructive in New Zealand’s recent history – him and his close allies reinventing themselves as experts in using race-baiting as a political tool, unleashing a wave of racist politics. Much of this doesn’t start with the politicians, but instead comes from secretive and well-funded hard-right groups with innocuous sounding names like the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union. We need to understand what is going on to be able to oppose it. This is the book we have been waiting for.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

Paperback

Published September 23, 2026

About the author

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicky_Hager

Reviews

[Jimmylanyard]

The lightest of Hager's books, this doesn't contain any of the bombshells of his previous works about NZ politics and international relations. In fact, all the revelations in Dirty Work are things that have been out in the open this whole time. The links between the Taxpayers' Union and other astroturf groups are completely searchable via the companies office. The racist campaigns against Three Waters and Maiki Sherman were visible for everyone with eyes. That doesn't make the book pointless--there is value in clearly making those links on the record, especially when our media class is determined to play along with the kayfabe.

This complicity also explains the hostility from the press gallery in its own coverage of the release. When most of our journalists have been insistent in going along with these groups' own framing of themselves (and many outright share their political viewpoints), it is only natural that they respond with the kind of wagon-circling solidarity that no other profession, save cops, could dream of mustering. Because the thing that makes Nicky Hager stand out most from his peers isn't just his rigor but his self-respect. This is a guy who earnestly believes that things should be better and that pisses off most New Zealand journalists.

[Florence worence]

Aside from how obviously harmful Jordan Williams & co are for nz society, I can’t stop thinking about just how weird they are. Are they not embarrassed about being such devious little snakes?? Are they not embarrassed by their fictional-villain style scheming? So bizarre.

Broke up my reading of this book full of infuriating weirdos with the first te reo Māori spin class at Les Mills which really helped maintain my faith in humanity.

[Simon Sweetman]

I really enjoyed this short, punchy, clear-eyed account of the kind of people that don’t just want to watch the world burn they want to take back-door/behind-the-scenes credit for being the accelerant (Jordan Williams, Ani O’Brien, Cameron Slater, by association to all — David Seymour). Nicky Hager releases a book, in secret, and so the stakes are suddenly high. It is easy then to call it a fizzer for it being 120 pages, or for a bunch of the wealthy and sorted to boast about not reading (and not caring). None of this takes away from the facts as presented (and researched) here. And the hit job on Maiki Sherman was despicable; Lloyd Burr should hang his head in shame by the way. The real sadness is that “Dirty Work” has a sense — by the nature of politics and the virtue of who reading and writing is for — of preaching to the converted. And the converted largely playing by the rules makes them unfortunately disadvantaged at the starter’s block. Which is ultimately what this book is about, the buying of influence, the intoxication of influence masquerading as power, and the evil that certain people do. David Farrar with his magnifying glass out to burn the ants, Jordan Williams with his Don Brash Is Really My Daddy complex, Ani O’Brien lying (in all senses of the word) with these dogs. It’s a great piece of journalism that completes a trilogy exposing these (and other) bad people. And National and ACT are guilty by association and implication and the mention of Luxon at the very end is a classy power-move of journalistic writing. A final card to lay down. But of course the right are sorted and bored of this and will move past it immediately. None of that devalues the book. It’s just that, as Gore Vidal put it, “Once a country is conditioned to liars, it takes generations to get the truth back”. Kudos to Mr Hager for trying and continuing to fight that fight.

[Seth Heremaia]

Couldn’t put it down.

A brilliant piece of writing about an atrocious group of people.

[Tom]

A readable compilation of disturbing facts about far-right political operators in and around the Taxpayers Union. No big surprises, though. Hager makes good points about how the media in NZ treats the TU as some kind of legitimate institution, when in reality it is just an unofficial campaign organisation for ACT (mainly), and NZ First and National (in part). Hager is uncritical of Labour and co, which is to be expected.
Will anyone who reads this be shocked to learn how cynical and degraded Jordan Williams, David Farrar and Ani O'Brien are? And about the close links between the TU and ACT, the Free Speech Union, Hobson's Pledge etc?

[Emmy]

Pretty revealing exposé of some of the most gruesome freaks active in our politics today. A helpful primer for those not familiar with the Jordan Williams Cinematic Universe. As someone already familiar with the chuds, a helpful refresher. I wish more had been said of O'Brien's role in the disgraceful swearing of Benjamin Doyle, which she led and which was undoubtedly the worst media hit job carried out by this repugnant clique.

[Joseph Kernohan]

No political bombshells like in Dirty Politics but a well researched look into foreign influence and the slowly slipping democratic standards of New Zealand politics. This wont make the splash that it should unfortunately...

[Nick Edkins]

Kind of thin gruel but good to have this narrative collected in one place and attracting a news cycle because we do need to do something about this pernicious nonsense

[Pearce]

A solid account of the history of the New Zealand hard-right lobby group The Taxpayers' Union and their links with various activist groups and political parties, including the Atlas Network, Curia, the Free Speech Union, Sensible Sentencing, Groundswell, ACT etc. A lot of this information was already in the public domain but I don't think it's ever been brought together like this to show a complete history, and there are a few new revelations.

It isn't quite on the level of Dirty Politics or especially The Hollow Men and may have been slightly rushed to get out before the election (though I doubt it will significantly move the needle there) but it's essential reading for NZ political junkies.

[Larissa]

Legitimate freak show

[Holly Pears]

Well well well 🍿

Imagine if all these donations went towards charities whose work actually benefits society. Imagine if we all cared for and looked after each other... 🤯

[Will Pearce Loe]

the clearly co-ordinated response to the release of dirty work from the right was that the book contained no new information, and its information about jordan williams and the TU was already common knowledge. I don't necessarily disagree, but as the book describes williams as an amoral, serial sexual harasser who only cares about his own profile this doesn't seem much of a deflection for the people who have been very willing to work with him for years.

the research into the depth of connections between the TU and a variety of multi-national right wing organisations is the real story here imo, and it's explored well if lightly by hager. the connections with them and big tobacco was particularly interesting imo. once again ruth richardson and roger douglas rear their heads in all the worst parts of nz politics, and it seems like they have worthy successors in terms of turning nz into a far more unpleasant place to live than it is already

[Julia]

I had unrealistically high expectations when Hager’s book was announced. I had expected that Hager may in fact expose the Labour Party for doing the same ‘dirty politics’ of which the National Party were accused in 2014 (using bloggers and social media influencers to attack the opposition and public servants). Alas, no. This gossip pamphlet is essentially fan fiction.

[Alice]

Loved it. Great to see scum like Jordan Williams being shown for who and what they are. If only we had more decent, proper journalists who investigate and report, and actually hold those in power accountable, not just lick the boot so they can feather their own nests. But unfortunatley there are many more Jordan Williamses than there are Nicky Hagers in this country.

[Daniel Headifen]

Almost rated it 2 star. Short and too focused on Jordan Williams. The change in focus of ACT was an interesting observation. As was the Tax Payers Union lobbying on 3 waters and a few other things. But overall too light. Brought at Paraparumu Paper Plus as sold out in Otaki.

[Jordan Dawson]

Some good stuff, especially having a clear timeline of events for the Maiki Sherman hit job. Also interesting commentary on political donations. Not sure if it was worth a whole book; I didn't need 120 pages to know the Jordan Williams is a *****.