Colin Craig arrives at the High Court in Auckland with wife Helen Craig, for the beginning of his defamation case against his former Press Secretary Rachel MacGregor.

Colin Craig believes he has been left a social "pariah" after a "media firestorm" destroyed his career after the fallout of the 2014 election.

The former Conservative Party leader made the comments in his closing statements in the trial between himself and his former press secretary Rachel MacGregor.

The two are counter suing each other in the High Court in Auckland after their relationship soured in 2014, when MacGregor resigned two days before the election.

Craig's case is based on what he alleges are three separate incidences of defamation against him.

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This includes a press release, a tweet and comments made to Tax Payer's Union member Jordan Williams in which MacGregor detailed the alleged sexual harassment.

Abigail Dougherty Justice Anne Hinton was the presiding judge during the trial.

Williams later distributed the information MacGregor had shared with him with others, which ultimately led to Craig's resignation from the Conservative Party.

MacGregor has responded with a counterclaim alleging Craig defamed her in four separate incidents.

Along with other defences, both sides are pleading the defence of truth.

ABIGAIL DOUGHERTY/STUFF Rachel MacGregor pictured during her trial.

The trial has aired much of the now well-publicised relationship between the pair. This includes letters and poems that Craig penned to MacGregor as well as details of when the pair kissed in 2011.

Craig is representing himself in the trial, and on Thursday afternoon began his closing arguments.

Looking tired, he began by saying MacGregor's behaviour had contributed to "the media firestorm that consumed my career, damaged both my personal and political situation and made me a social pariah".

Abigail Dougherty Rachel MacGregor's lawyer's Hayden Wilson and Linda Clark.

Craig denies MacGregor was sexually harassed, and that she welcomed many of his advances and communications.

He told the court that in hindsight she had '"re-considered and "re-remembered" events, leaving her to come to a false conclusion around the sexual harassment.

Earlier on Thursday, MacGregor's lawyer Hayden Wilson told the court it was obvious his client had been defamed by Craig in four different instances: twice in two press conferences held by Craig; in a booklet titled Dirty Politics and Hidden Agendas which was delivered to 1.6 million households; and in a letter to Conservative Party members.

Abigail Dougherty Colin Craig defended himself during the trial.

The overall tenor was that MacGregor had been made out to be Craig's mistress, Wilson said.

Instead, MacGregor was the victim of sexual harassment, Wilson told the court.

"It was clear from the evidence Mr Craig did not understand what constitutes sexual harassment. That is not an excuse," he said.

"He was the employer. Clearly Mr Craig did not understand professional boundaries. It is my submission Mr Craig's conduct amounted to sexual harassment to Ms MacGregor."



When MacGregor resigned, she filed a claim of sexual harassment against him with the Human Rights Commission.

At mediation, they settled the sexual harassment claim and a financial dispute, and signed a confidentiality agreement.

MacGregor subsequently complained to the Human Rights Review Tribunal that Craig had breached the confidentiality agreement by doing media interviews and holding the two press conferences.

The tribunal found in her favour and ordered Craig to pay MacGregor $128,000.

It was not MacGregor's fault that her confidence was breached by Jordan Williams when she gave allegations about Craig's behaviour, Wilson said.

"Ms MacGregor is blameless in this proceeding," Wilson said.