Nats plan to use charities to gain party publicity

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