New Zealand Opposition Leader Retreats From Banning Book

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The Leader of the New Zealand National Party, Don Bracks, has indicated that he may clear the way for the publication of a book by investigative journalist Nicky Hager, despite having obtained an injunction last Friday banning anyone from publishing the contents of leaked internal party emails. Hager's book, The Hollow Men, investigates the National Party's campaign ahead of the September 2005 election and explores the role of the shadowy conservative Christian group the Exclusive Brethren and Australian political consultants Crosby/Textor. Brash initially rejected the request but now says he wants the book published "so that the claims can be exposed to daylight." But Brash says he will only lift the injunction after his lawyer has seen the book. "It feels like we've gone from trying to suppress the book to just wanting to delay it while they get their attacks and their damage control ready," says Hager.