We had hoped to resolve this issue quietly and amicably, but unfortunately, it has attracted media attention.
Earlier this month, Matthew Hooton launched a full frontal attack on Hobson's Pledge and our founder, Don Brash, stating that our group (and Don in particular) are liars, lacking integrity, and even corrupt.
The media has since approached Don for comment, leaving us with no choice but to confront Matthew Hooton’s defamatory attacks head-on.
Don Brash has spent decades trying to advance respectful discussion about the Treaty of Waitangi. From his Orewa Speech to his work with Hobson’s Pledge, he has unequivocally called for equality and unity in New Zealand based on a sincere belief that a race-based state would doom our country.
He has been patient and courteous, maintaining the discussion without vitriol, without vilification of those with genuine concerns on either side. But that has been repaid in ad hominem attacks, in scurrilous accusations of racism.
Let me tell you what happened.
A few weeks ago Matthew Hooton went on a rant about Hobson’s Pledge and Don Brash on a well-watched podcast produced by Mediaworks. It was a tirade intended to drag Don's character through the mud.
So egregious were Mr Hooton’s claims, Hobson’s Pledge’s trustees and long-time friends of Don are urging him to take legal action to show how wrong Hooton was.
Being labelled a “racist” is barely worth acknowledging these days. Everything and anything is apparently racist and as such the word has lost its meaning. Don is quite able to shrug that kind of nonsense off knowing that he is not a racist at all. However, with that word so devalued, Mr Hooton and the like have found they have to crank their venom lever another turn, and make accusations of corruption, lying, and bad moral character.
This isn’t just an insult to Don. It is an insult to all of us who share his moderate views on the Treaty, and equality before the law.
Matthew Hooton’s attack on Don’s integrity and character was unacceptable. He has acknowledged that he was “not justified in making accusations of dishonesty” about Don but refused to apologise in the way Don requested.
Matthew Hooton has a history of playing fast and loose and this is not his first defamation rodeo.
In 2020, the National Business Review was sued by former National Minister Steven Joyce after it published a column by Matthew Hooton in which he accused Steven Joyce of “blackmail”.
That case forced Hooton to issue a public apology to Mr Joyce as part of a settlement. NBR ceased running Mr Hooton’s columns after this.
Radio NZ also no longer has him as a guest after it emerged he'd not been transparent about his involvement in the campaign to make Todd Muller leader of the National Party despite commenting in the media about the party leadership.
Of course, the tragic short-lived leadership of Mr Muller was a catastrophe from start to finish and did immense damage to the National Party at the time. Mr Hooton acted as Mr Muller’s right-hand man, bailing not long after his mate did.
It is unclear how he has been able to continue to position himself as an ‘inside man’ on ‘the right’ when he has fallen out with every right-wing man and his dog, including former Prime Minister John Key.
Given his extraordinary outburst about Don on the podcast, we wonder who is paying Matthew Hooton’s wages currently. Is this attack on Don and Hobson's Pledge another paid 'hit job' perhaps on behalf of a client ... one of his previously known iwi clients maybe?
And if he is acting on behalf of a client to slander Don and discredit his work, why is the New Zealand Herald continuing to publish him without being transparent about his financial interests?
How dare he defame a former leader of the Opposition and a widely respected Reserve Bank Governor?
Don has proven that he is more than capable of working across the aisle and delivering non-partisan analysis. In recent years, he has collaborated with former Labour Prime Minister Helen Clark on several foreign affairs articles, for example. He is a decent and honest man with sincere beliefs. To be labelled dishonest and corrupt on one of New Zealand's most watched political podcasts is utterly wrong.
He has contributed a great deal to New Zealand in his many roles and we are determined to stand with him as he faces down Matthew Hooton’s slander.
This is a legal fight we didn’t anticipate having, but it is important. That’s why we are calling for supporters to join us and ensure Don has lawyers in his corner.
Contributions are welcome at Don's Defence Fund
Elliot Ikilei is a spokesperson for Hobson's Pledge