The Labour Government's outrage over an e-mail from Timberland's Kit Richards turned to embarrassment today when an e-mail from the head of the Native Forest Action Network revealed the Labour Party funding the group's "guerrilla warfare" campaign against other political parties and pro-logging groups.

The e-mail released today by ACT Deputy Leader Hon Ken Shirley congratulates Native Forest Action Network members for their direct action to disrupt the campaign events of National, ACT and New Zealand First while going on say that none of this would have been possible "without the financial support from the Labour Party.

"This e-mail reveals the disturbing and underhanded links between the Labour Party and the anti-logging extremists. It's clear that Helen Clark and her Party have been engaged financially in supporting the anti-logging extremists.

"This under-handed funding by Helen Clark and the Labour Party of the NFA is exactly the type of 'guerrilla warfare' that Helen Clark has tried to accuse Kit Richards of.

"Let's be very clear. Mr Richards was prepared to make his statement on a public site on the Internet. Helen Clark or Pete Hodgson have never fronted up and explained their financial backing for NFA.

"Ms Clark has some very serious questions to answer today. What was the amount given to NFA? Did that money come directly from the subscriptions of Labour Party Members? Were Labour Party Members told that their money was being used to fund environmental extremists? What other groups has the Labour Party been funding against the sustainable beech scheme and the people of the West Coast?

"If this is the type of back room dealing Labour have been engaging in to campaign against the West Coast Beech Scheme, what are they doing for the campaigns against competition in ACC and the Employment Contracts Act?," said Hon Ken Shirley. ENDS

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