Nats plan to use charities to gain party publicity
National is set to abuse the good name of charities in a cynical publicity plan being circulated among party members,
Hon Trevor Mallard said today.
"The plan shows just how desperate Don is, it shows how questionable his judgment is, and it shows just how low this
party will stoop to get votes.
"That this plan was approved for circulation and for presentations by the party is frankly staggering," Trevor Mallard
said.
"The presentation being given to party delegates with official National branding urges them to start associating with
charities like the Cancer Society, Women's Refuge, the Breast Cancer Foundation and Rape Crisis in order to get women's
votes.
"This is a cynical and desperate approach to getting political support.
"Charities should be supported because they back worthy causes - not because they will give National MPs political
mileage," Trevor Mallard said.
"National is also using well-known kiwi bands - The Feelers and Steriogram - in this plan in an effort to somehow
convince people the party is "cool". I would be interested to know if these bands know that their image is being used to
promote the National party in this way.
"Likewise, National has used Dawn Raid clothing as a brand the party can link to - which is laughable given the dawn
raids were carried out by a National government and were a lowpoint in relations between National and Pacific Island
communities - a relationship that has still not recovered.
"Does Don's memory not go back that far?"
The plan also includes a page entitled "Sell our female MPs".
"Given National's well-known track record of ignoring its women MPs, dumping them from their jobs, and relegating them
down the party hierarchy, I am not quite sure what this heading means," Trevor Mallard said.
ENDS