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The subterfuge behind this country's most damaging political spying operation remained a mystery last night as National continued to claim its emails had been stolen.
The release of the book The Hollow Men shows the slew of emails did not belong to just Don Brash, but to other MPs and party operatives too.
The Hollow Men author Nicky Hager said emails used in the book were not stolen but were given to him by concerned National people. But deputy leader Gerry Brownlee discounted that possibility.
"We believe that it [Dr Brash's computer] has been hacked into. What has been underlying our concern is the security of our system."
Dr Brash has long had a sense of unease about leaks from his four email addresses.
In August 2005, the Sunday Star-Times ran a story based on a leaked Dr Brash email and, shortly after, Television New Zealand also gave the National leader reason to doubt his emails were secure.
Electronic security firm Corporate Risks was called in to examine Dr Brash's work PC and laptop and the work PC of a staff member who regularly dealt with his email.
Investigations found no evidence of tampering.
Dr Brash could not afford to breathe easy because, in December, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters claimed he might have a telephone book full of Dr Brash's emails.
