Second Kiwi-made campaign 'illogical', Nats say

The Government's decision to mount two separate marketing campaigns for New Zealand goods will confuse the public and achieve little, the National Party says.

Green MP Sue Bradford this week announced the party's $11.5 million three-year Buy Kiwi Made campaign -- part of its co-operation agreement with Labour -- would stick with products manufactured or processed in New Zealand.

The Government had pushed to widen the campaign to include goods that had a major New Zealand design or raw material component.

But Economic Development Minister Trevor Mallard yesterday announced a wider "New Zealand Inc" campaign would also be run.

It would incorporate Buy Kiwi Made, with a "parallel and interlinked" campaign "around things which are designed and owned in New Zealand which are essentially New Zealand, even if the products are not finished here".

The campaigns would have some integration but the Buy Kiwi Made campaign would retain its tight focus.

He said no funding decisions had yet been made for the wider campaign.

National's economic development spokeswoman Katherine Rich said the decision to run a second campaign was politically expedient and illogical.

"This is just a waste of taxpayer money so Helen Clark can get out of a situation where she's been rolled by the Green Party.

"This second programme ... is not based on any philosophy, logic, or common sense.

She said taxpayers could expect to stump up as much cash for the new campaign as for the original programme.

"Running both campaigns in tandem will also be very confusing for New Zealanders and begs the question about what this new programme sprung on the public is designed to achieve."

Ms Bradford yesterday announced the first significant step of the Buy Kiwi Made campaign -- a mini-expo of locally made goods at Parliament on November 8.

The event will mark the one-year anniversary of the death of Buy Kiwi Made champion, former Greens co-leader Rod Donald, who died on November 6 last year.

Ms Bradford said she was pleased the issue had been settled with the retention of the Buy Kiwi Made campaign and the addition of the wider plans.

- NZPA