New Zealand election campaign under way amid dirty tricks furore

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key speaks to students of Taratahi Agricultural School in Masterton during an election campaign on August 20, 2014

Auckland (AFP) - New Zealand's ruling National party launched its election campaign Sunday engulfed in a furore over underhand tactics, less than four weeks before the country goes to the polls.

A newly published book, based on emails hacked from the computer of a right-wing blogger, alleges the centre-right government of Prime Minister John Key and the blogger co-operated in a sustained dirty tricks campaign.