With Nicky Hagar back looking to peddle his next ‘hit job book’ in an attempt to sway the voters at the next election, one can’t forget the last book he was heavily involved in – Whale Oil.
Hagar was a big part of that knowingly defamatory fiction novel by author, Margie Thomson, and his publishers, Potton & Burton.
We were wondering why so long between drinks as they say?
Was it the lack of insurance on offer after the disastrous defence of the defamation claims made by Spring, and 2 others, that resulted in significant pre trial payouts into 6 figures, along with the exorbitant legal fees defending the various defamation proceedings taken against both the author and publishers?
How can Potton & Burton even have an insurance policy after their involvement in the Whale Oil book?
Nicky Hagar for his part wrote the ‘Introduction and Foreward’ for the Whale Oil book, as well as taking centre stage on the front cover with a glowing endorsement to the veracity of the contents of the book. Clearly he had no qualms about putting his name to a knowingly deliberate piece of fiction.
Hagar was intimately involved in the launch of the Whale Oil book, the book was heavily backed by Hagar, and he played a key central role in its release.
Spring says “ I was never contacted at all about the book, its allegations about me (and others), I was never afforded the opportunity to answer any of the so called ‘facts’ the book claimed to make, and in the end it was all false, highly defamatory and rather embarrassing for all those who participated in the preparation and production of the book”.
The book, Whale Oil, made an allegation (one of many) against Spring that he was behind the attempted murder of Auckland businessman, Matthew Blomfield. An allegation of no substance, no evidence, and no truth what so ever.
Spring says “when I received the thousands of pages for discovery after filing my Statement of Claim in the High Court in Auckland (CIV 2021 404 000346), what came to light was that there was a discussion about interviewing me for the book, but they decided not to as I would likely provide evidence proving the claims in the book were the work of a deluded fantasist, and I would likely ensure the book could not see the light of day”.
The author, publisher and Hagar knew from day one that the book they were participating in was not truthful, nor well researched, and likely would lead to a defamation claim. The hours of notes and audio recordings are fascinating, Blomfield’s ramblings about people he says he knows, and he even says his own wife is an alcoholic and he looks after the kids as his wife is always drinking.
You have to ask – Why would Hagar and his publishers want any such association?
Prior to the launch of the book Spring wrote to publisher, Potton & Burton, disclosing a large bundle of evidence that would later be used in the successful defamation claim (settled prior to trial) against both the author and publishers. Despite having the evidential information prior to the launch of the book, they published any way.
Whilst Spring was named as a suspect based on the lies of Matthew Blomfield in his Police interviews, the NZ Police file, which author Margie Thomson had access to and copies of, was quite clear that the investigation was complete, Spring was not a suspect, was never involved, and that the NZ Police believed that Matthew Blomfield was NOT telling them the full truth about why he was visited that night at his home.
WHY DID A GANG MEMBER REALLY VISIT MATTHEW BLOMFIELD AND TRY TO SHOOT HIM? WE HAVE THE EVIDENCE.
Today we will reveal what we know. Spring says “ I have sat on this for a while, and Hagar making an appearance seems like just as a good a time as any to reveal what I know”.
We know that Ned Paraha was the perpetrator of the violent assault on Matthew Blomfield at his home in Greenhithe. That has been tested in Court, he was found guilty, and Paraha served his full sentence.
But for many, including Spring, there has been the lingering question of why did Paraha really visit that night, along with a justified suspicion of what Matthew Blomfield really knew about his visitor.
Spring says “after making some calls and waiting for the appropriate time, I headed south for a face to face meeting with a senior gang member in search of the facts of the matter”.
Nothing in the book is true when it comes to that fateful night at Blomfield’s home – the person Spring spoke with face to face was clear, concise, and willing to disclose to Spring that Matthew Blomfield had been out threatening and intimidating people, and attempting to collect debts whilst himself claiming gang affiliations in the hope to frighten and terrorise people into paying him.
Blomfield was dropping names, and affiliations – a BIG no no. Word soon spread back through the underworld of Blomfeld’s whisperings when attempting to collect debts.
So the question remains – why did Nicky Hagar get involved in the Whale Oil book?
We have written to Hagar on numerous occasions and afforded him the opportunity to reply. To date he has ignored our requests. dle
