diff --git a/core/server/models/base/index.js b/core/server/models/base/index.js
index c35b31c5a8..b446f88e15 100644
--- a/core/server/models/base/index.js
+++ b/core/server/models/base/index.js
@@ -274,20 +274,16 @@ ghostBookshelf.Model = ghostBookshelf.Model.extend({
         // Filter options so that only permitted ones remain
         options = this.filterOptions(options, 'findPage');
 
-        // Extend the model defaults
-        options = _.defaults(options, this.findPageDefaultOptions());
-
-        // Run specific conversion of model query options to where options
-        options = this.processOptions(itemCollection, options);
-
-        // Ensure only valid fields/columns are added to query
-        if (options.columns) {
-            options.columns = _.intersection(options.columns, this.prototype.permittedAttributes());
-        }
+        // This applies default properties like 'staticPages' and 'status'
+        // And then converts them to 'where' options... this behaviour is effectively deprecated in favour
+        // of using filter - it's only be being kept here so that we can transition cleanly.
+        this.processOptions(_.defaults(options, this.findPageDefaultOptions()));
 
         // If there are `where` conditionals specified, add those to the query.
         if (options.where) {
-            itemCollection.query('where', options.where);
+            itemCollection.query(function (qb) {
+                gql.knexify(qb, options.where);
+            });
         }
 
         // Apply FILTER
@@ -304,6 +300,11 @@ ghostBookshelf.Model = ghostBookshelf.Model.extend({
         // TODO: this should just be done for all methods @ the API level
         options.withRelated = _.union(options.withRelated, options.include);
 
+        // Ensure only valid fields/columns are added to query
+        if (options.columns) {
+            options.columns = _.intersection(options.columns, this.prototype.permittedAttributes());
+        }
+
         if (options.order) {
             options.order = self.parseOrderOption(options.order);
         } else {
diff --git a/core/server/models/post.js b/core/server/models/post.js
index 6df2d7b989..953493b4cc 100644
--- a/core/server/models/post.js
+++ b/core/server/models/post.js
@@ -333,8 +333,7 @@ Post = ghostBookshelf.Model.extend({
     findPageDefaultOptions: function findPageDefaultOptions() {
         return {
             staticPages: false, // include static pages
-            status: 'published',
-            where: {}
+            status: 'published'
         };
     },
 
@@ -347,14 +346,28 @@ Post = ghostBookshelf.Model.extend({
         };
     },
 
-    processOptions: function processOptions(itemCollection, options) {
+    /**
+     * @deprecated in favour of filter
+     */
+    processOptions: function processOptions(options) {
+        if (!options.staticPages && !options.status) {
+            return options;
+        }
+
+        // This is the only place that 'options.where' is set now
+        options.where = {statements: []};
+
         // Step 4: Setup filters (where clauses)
         if (options.staticPages !== 'all') {
             // convert string true/false to boolean
             if (!_.isBoolean(options.staticPages)) {
                 options.staticPages = _.contains(['true', '1'], options.staticPages);
             }
-            options.where['posts.page'] = options.staticPages;
+            options.where.statements.push({prop: 'page', op: '=', value: options.staticPages});
+            delete options.staticPages;
+        } else if (options.staticPages === 'all') {
+            options.where.statements.push({prop: 'page', op: 'IN', value: [true, false]});
+            delete options.staticPages;
         }
 
         // Unless `all` is passed as an option, filter on
@@ -362,7 +375,11 @@ Post = ghostBookshelf.Model.extend({
         if (options.status !== 'all') {
             // make sure that status is valid
             options.status = _.contains(['published', 'draft'], options.status) ? options.status : 'published';
-            options.where['posts.status'] = options.status;
+            options.where.statements.push({prop: 'status', op: '=', value: options.status});
+            delete options.status;
+        } else {
+            options.where.statements.push({prop: 'status', op: 'IN', value: ['published', 'draft']});
+            delete options.status;
         }
 
         return options;
diff --git a/core/server/models/tag.js b/core/server/models/tag.js
index 173eba3501..408832e7c4 100644
--- a/core/server/models/tag.js
+++ b/core/server/models/tag.js
@@ -59,16 +59,17 @@ Tag = ghostBookshelf.Model.extend({
     }
 }, {
     findPageDefaultOptions: function findPageDefaultOptions() {
-        return {
-            where: {}
-        };
+        return {};
     },
 
     orderDefaultOptions: function orderDefaultOptions() {
         return {};
     },
 
-    processOptions: function processOptions(itemCollection, options) {
+    /**
+     * @deprecated in favour of filter
+     */
+    processOptions: function processOptions(options) {
         return options;
     },
 
diff --git a/core/server/models/user.js b/core/server/models/user.js
index 08ef85cd3b..904fd527a8 100644
--- a/core/server/models/user.js
+++ b/core/server/models/user.js
@@ -166,9 +166,7 @@ User = ghostBookshelf.Model.extend({
 }, {
     findPageDefaultOptions: function findPageDefaultOptions() {
         return {
-            status: 'active',
-            where: {},
-            whereIn: {}
+            status: 'active'
         };
     },
 
@@ -180,28 +178,39 @@ User = ghostBookshelf.Model.extend({
         };
     },
 
-    processOptions: function processOptions(itemCollection, options) {
-        // TODO: there are multiple statuses that make a user "active" or "invited" - we a way to translate/map them:
-        // TODO (cont'd from above): * valid "active" statuses: active, warn-1, warn-2, warn-3, warn-4, locked
-        // TODO (cont'd from above): * valid "invited" statuses" invited, invited-pending
+    /**
+     * @deprecated in favour of filter
+     */
+    processOptions: function processOptions(options) {
+        if (!options.status) {
+            return options;
+        }
+
+        // This is the only place that 'options.where' is set now
+        options.where = {statements: []};
+
+        var allStates = activeStates.concat(invitedStates),
+            value;
 
         // Filter on the status.  A status of 'all' translates to no filter since we want all statuses
-        if (options.status && options.status !== 'all') {
+        if (options.status !== 'all') {
             // make sure that status is valid
-            // TODO: need a better way of getting a list of statuses other than hard-coding them...
-            options.status = _.indexOf(
-                ['active', 'warn-1', 'warn-2', 'warn-3', 'warn-4', 'locked', 'invited', 'inactive'],
-                options.status) !== -1 ? options.status : 'active';
+            options.status = allStates.indexOf(options.status) > -1 ? options.status : 'active';
         }
 
         if (options.status === 'active') {
-            itemCollection.query().whereIn('status', activeStates);
+            value = activeStates;
         } else if (options.status === 'invited') {
-            itemCollection.query().whereIn('status', invitedStates);
-        } else if (options.status !== 'all') {
-            options.where.status = options.status;
+            value = invitedStates;
+        } else if (options.status === 'all') {
+            value = allStates;
+        } else {
+            value = options.status;
         }
 
+        options.where.statements.push({prop: 'status', op: 'IN', value: value});
+        delete options.status;
+
         return options;
     },