By Audrey Young
political reporter
Saatchi & Saatchi boss Kevin Roberts will give National MPs a private pep talk tomorrow, amid growing accusations of improper links between the Government, its Tourism Board and his company, an advertising multinational.
The Prime Minister, Jenny Shipley, revealed yesterday that New York-based Mr Roberts was "a
close personal friend" and on that basis would deliver a motivational address on election campaigns to the party's Wellington retreat.
Mrs Shipley and the Minister of Tourism, Murray McCully, have been accused by Labour of hijacking a Tourism Board campaign by Saatchi & Saatchi to aid National's election campaign strategy.
Labour leader Helen Clark said the use of Mr Roberts and the timing were extraordinary.
"The suspicion that there is a direct link between Saatchi & Saatchi's proposals for marketing by the Tourism Board, paid for by public money, and its personal commitment to the National Party, now arises."
During a visit to London last month, Mrs Shipley launched Saatchi's concept of "New Zealand on the Edge," the first part of a board campaign for maximum global exposure from major events here.
A former board member, Gerry McSweeney, said the board was not ready for the launch. He accused Mr McCully of intervention in Tourism Board matters.
But Mr McCully and Mrs Shipley have both suggested that the board had not been performing up to scratch and the Government was entitled to place demands on its $56 million funding.
Amid tensions between the board and the Government, three board members, including the chairman, his deputy and the chief executive, quit. The Auditor-General, David Macdonald, said this week that he would examine payouts to all except Mr McSweeney.
Helen Clark said the payouts, alleged to total $900,000, were "hush money."
"The relationship between Shipley and McCully, and Roberts and Saatchi is really at the centre of the whole fiasco over the Tourism Board," she said.
"The suspicion is that the Tourism Board's marketing of New Zealand's `big year' is being dovetailed with National's 'feel good' election strategy."
Mrs Shipley said: "As a passionate New Zealander, [Mr Roberts] likes what we're doing in Government and is keen to help us."
