Labour is attacking possible links between the new chairman of Creative New Zealand Peter Biggs and Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, and warns it may sack him and other "political" appointments if it wins power.
Labour leader Helen Clark said: "There is reason to believe that Mr Biggs is veryclosely identified with the present Government."
Mr Biggs, who is the managing director of advertising agency The New Colenso, was appointed to chair the arts funder last week, a move which Helen Clark said breached the convention restricting key appointments close to an election.
"He is very close to the Prime Minister herself and it will be of interest to explore how many contracts The New Colenso has had. They seem to be a somewhat favoured agency, like Saatchi's. A very political appointment, that," she said.
Mr Biggs could not be contacted for reaction to Helen Clark's comments. He has said he expects to be able to work with a Labour-led government.
Helen Clark said his appointment was provocative given her plans to take a close look at arts policy.
Tony Ryall, the Minister of Justice, attacked Labour last week for having a double standard over the convention about appointments close to an election. He said Labour appointed its "cronies" Reg Boorman and Lloyd Falck to the Earthquake and War Damages Commission three weeks before the 1990 election.
Helen Clark said the example of Mr Falck might set a precedent. She said National demanded his resignation after the election and gave him no pay in compensation.
"If what he [Mr Ryall] is signalling is that he expects their political appointees to be treated in the same way by an incoming Labour government, that's fine. That's the precedent it sets."
