Clark says 'fiction’ dig at Star-Times vindicated

Prime Minister Helen Clark says she has been vindicated in calling a newspaper's claim of SIS spying on Maori groups and individuals a "work of fiction" following new comments from the paper's editor.

Sunday Star-Times editor Cate Brett yesterday told National Radio's Nine to Noon show that a "game of cat and mouse" was going on between the newspaper and the sources of its spy allegations, published last month.

Her comments follow a story in the paper's latest edition that raised fresh doubts about the veracity of the allegations, which included claims the SIS had gone beyond its statutory role in targeting the likes of Maori politicians such as Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia.

The story said the actions of the men after the publication of the allegations last month "raise questions about their claims".

One source had slipped back into the country during the week the allegations broke without the Star-Times being told - despite being asked to do so.

When the accusations broke, Helen Clark dismissed them as a "work of fiction" after advice from SIS chief Richard Woods. But she also gave clearance for the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, Justice Paul Neazor, to conduct an inquiry.

Helen Clark was withering in her criticism of the paper following Cate Brett's radio appearance.

"I think it is very clear the stories they ran have no substance," Helen Clark said.

"Everything I'm now hearing and reading strengthens my conviction that the director of security was right when he assured me ... that the Sunday Star-Times articles were a work of fiction."

The Prime Minister said she did not know how long Justice Neazor's inquiry would take.

Cate Brett said on radio she stood by the decision to publish the story but went on to detail problems the newspaper has had with its sources since, saying it was "disturbed by their elusiveness subsequent to publication, perhaps naively, I guess".

She said that in investigating the claims the newspaper had gone as far as it could and believed the only way to get to the truth was through an inquiry.

The original allegations were written by staff journalist Anthony Hubbard and independent author Nicky Hager. Hager annoyed the Prime Minister during the 2002 election campaign when he released a book alleging a cover-up of possible GM corn contamination.

After the Star-Times claims, the Herald revealed one of the sources appeared to be mysterious expatriate Jack Sanders, who has been behind other questionable sensational stories. The Star-Times has not denied he was one of the sources but said he was not the main one.

What was said

Sunday Star Times editor on National Radio yesterday:

Presenter: To be honest, it appears like they [the authors of the stories] were duped by these guys.

Cate Brett: Well I think ... I mean that's something we're just not in a position to know, which is why we would like the inquiry to continue. We don't know whether they've been duped, we don't know by whom, we don't know - if that is the case - what's behind it. I mean, this is a very elaborate web of evidence that has been spun.