Slater’s rap sheet reads like a cautionary tale for wannabe keyboard warriors. Back in the bad old Whale Oil days, he was slapped with three hefty defamation rulings that would make any sane person think twice. The courts weren’t buying Slater's “I’m just a blogger” shtick when he smeared innocent folks for cash. His underhanded tactics, exposed in Nicky Hagar’s excellent book Dirty Politics, tanked his reputation, and by 2019, he was bankrupt, owing creditors a small fortune. We all hoped that’d be the end of it. Nope. Enter The Good Oil, where Slater’s back to his old game: defaming people under the guise of “free speech” for money.
Despite those significant defamation rulings, Slater’s still thumbing his nose at the law, using The Good Oil to sling mud at his numerous enemies. Sources whisper he’s targeting old foes with the same reckless abandon, even though court orders have already explicitly penalised him for this type of nonsense. It’s like watching a bloke drive a car after his license got revoked for drunk driving, then act shocked when the cuffs come out. The question isn’t if he’ll get sued again…it’s when. And with his track record, the next payout could make the $700,000 previously awarded against him look like pocket change.
This month, the NZ Herald reported:
Defamation losses, awards and bankruptcy - 20 years of 'Whale Oil' blogging celebrated.
Former Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater will celebrate 20 years of blogging with a party in July - and New Zealand’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has agreed to deliver the “roast”. “When I asked Winston if he would do it, he asked me if it was an all-day event,” Slater told the Herald. The party is being held at Leo Molloy’s Headquarters bar in Auckland’s Viaduct, with tickets to attend costing $50. The fact he has given Peters a starring role appears a dramatic volte-face for Slater, who in years past was known for taunting the politician, including referring to him as “Winston Raymond Peters, 65, pensioner of St Mary’s Bay” as if he were a criminal.
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Later - amid revelations he had taken cash to target people - the Whale Oil blog collapsed and Slater lost three defamation actions, went into personal bankruptcy and suffered a serious health event. Having recovered his health, he is now on to his third blog “Good Oil” which he bills as “News and Commentary from a Conservative Point of View”. The promotional material for the 20th anniversary party says: “Join us for a night to remember as we celebrate 20 years of blogging, breaking news and holding the powerful to account. “For two decades, Cam Slater has been at the forefront of fearless journalism: challenging narratives, exposing hypocrisy and keeping the establishment on its toes. Now, it’s time to raise a glass and mark this milestone with friends, supporters and fellow truth-seekers.” · NZ First leader Winston Peters being interviewed by Cameron Slater before the 2023 election.
Then there’s the dodgy money trail. The Good Oil runs on a subscription model, receiving cash from readers who lap up Slater’s venom. But as a bankrupt, Slater’s legally required to declare all income to the Official Assignee. Is Slater forthcoming about those subscriber dollars? Probably not, which would be a breach of the Insolvency Act. Hiding income while crying poor to creditors? That’s peak Cameron Slater. If the Assignee catches wind, he could be receiving more than just a stern letter.
What’s galling is the sheer hypocrisy of this right-wing operative. Slater’s out there preaching about the “truth” while dodging accountability for his numerous lies. The Good Oil might look like a fresh start, but it’s the same old tired playbook: defame, deflect, and dodge. New Zealand deserves better than his brand of recycled muckraking. So, here’s a tip, Cam: the courts already told you to pack it in. Keep defaming under your numerous pseudonyms and proxies, and you’ll be back in the dock before you can check your secret bank accounts.
