After a four-week trial, there's more to come in the Colin Craig defamation case.

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A jury decided yesterday that Craig, the former leader of the Conservative Party, defamed Jordan Williams, the head of lobby group the Taxpayers Union.

Craig has been ordered to pay almost $1.3 million in damages - the biggest defamation payout in New Zealand history.

Immediately after the verdict, Craig's lawyers began the process of an appeal, saying the jury wrongly disregarded the defence of qualified privilege. They're also unhappy with the size of the financial redress, saying it's excessive.

That appeal is due to be heard in a few weeks.

Outside the High Court in Auckland yesterday afternoon Craig said he had "no regrets" about his actions, and said he was merely defending his reputation.

The case was brought by Jordan Williams who took exception to comments made by Craig at a 2015 press conference and in a pamphlet he published called Dirty Politics and Hidden Agendas which was delivered to more than 1.6 million New Zealand households.

Craig claimed Williams had lied about him and was part of a smear campaign to push him out of the Conservative Party leadership.

The "false accusations" he alleged Williams spread were mainly around Craig's relationship with his former press secretary Rachel MacGregor, who quit suddenly two days before the 2014 general election.

A few weeks later MacGregor told Williams that she had made a complaint to the Human Rights Commission that Craig had sexually harassed her over a long period of her employment.

She shared letters and poems the politician sent her. Williams then revealed the details to other Conservative Party members.

Craig then named Williams in a group of "schemers" he said were responsible for a "plot" against him.

Williams then filed defamation proceedings in the High Court, saying he did not lie about Craig.

The court found in Williams' favour. 

The booklet also contained allegations about Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater.