Hager alleges 'constant discussion' of women's bodies and sexualised talk within Taxpayers' Union

Nicky Hager has claimed he had a “succession of women” coming to him from the Taxpayers’ Union claiming ”constant discussion of their bodies and sexualised talk" within the group. 

Hager’s book Dirty Work, released last night, claims the TPU settled an employment dispute involving allegations of “textbook sexual harassment” against executive director Jordan Williams. 

Williams rejects the allegation, this morning telling Ryan Bridge TODAY the accusation “really came from nowhere”. 

“The suggestion that there is a settlement of some kind, or the allegations in relation to that were settled, is totally false. My chair Ruth Richardson has dealt with that, she’s checked with every of the historic chairs and the co-founder who sat on the board until 2022. It is totally wrong.” 

Hager, who also appeared on the show this morning, told host Ryan Bridge he “wasn’t surprised” by the allegations and claimed multiple women from the Taxpayer’s Union approached him with “related kind of stories”. 

“And I wasn’t surprised because I had a succession of women from the Taxpayers’ Union telling related kind of stories of constant discussion of their bodies and sexualised talk.” 

He cited the information came from two anonymous sources but would not say who. 

“I wouldn’t make an allegation like that, which is actually only one line of a book – I wouldn’t make an allegation like that without having very solid information. 

“They also knew that it had been very carefully hidden, hidden even from members of their own board because they didn’t want the settlement to be known about.” 

Hager clarified the alleged incident as “sexual harassment”. 

“But I need to say, what’s being alleged here is not sexual assault. The person said, ‘No, it’s not that, but it’s textbook sexual harassment’ and that’s what’s at stake.” 

When asked on the show if he will sue Hager, Williams said: “It’s very tempting and a lot of people are texting me in relation to that. But the book’s primary objective is to derail me, to derail David, and to derail the Taxpayers’ Union. 

Taxpayer Union executive director Jordan Williams on Ryan Bridge TODAY. 

“And we have the most important work over the next five or six weeks. We’ve got to show New Zealanders the extent to which we are on an unaffordable path.” 

Bridge later asked Hager if he was worried he would get sued. 

“I’m not at all worried about being sued, but my lawyers would say to me to be suitably careful in what I’m saying, which is why I am.” 

Williams said the TPU would be launching election campaigns over the next few weeks. 

“This is the most important work of every three years, and I’m not going to let a far-left activist successfully derail. What I’m saying is it’s a question for later.”