Billboard No 2
May 30th, 2005 at 3:43 pm by David FarrarThe next in the series of National’s billboards appears to be up. I recall when we had the 100,000 strong online beaches for all petition someone made the comment “Beaches are for Kiwi, not just for Iwi” and that theme is reflected here.
And yes I know in theory the beaches are still in public ownership, but the Government’s legislation has granted many of the rights of ownership to Iwi, and substance over form tends to be more important.
Hat Tip: Aaron Bhatnagar
UPDATE: I am informed the billboard design Aaron has, and which is copied here, is not identical to the one actually being used by National. Will clarify once details are known, but I understand there is no “Iwis”
UPDATE2: I have now checked things out and can confirm that the billboard shown is not authorised by the National Party, and in fact no billboard is up yet. There are significant differences between the one above, and what will go up. Not my role to reveal details, so suggest people wait until they do go up.
A good lesson for all of us here (including me) that just because you see it on a blog, doesn’t mean it is correct. I saw it on another blog and assumed it was correct, but this was a wrong assumption. Apologies to those involved with the advertising material for the campaign, for any confusion caused.
And for those who think that this was not just a foul-up but a deliberate plan to leak a design, test reaction, and then change it based on the reaction – I can assure you that is not the case. We’re not that clever 
I will put up the actual billboard once it is published, and you can then all comment on that, rather than what turned out to be a red herring!
No tag for this post.
May 30th, 2005 at 4:09 pm
As a simple person ex Wellington now living in the upper North Island I find this message just a tad obscure. At least the pic which is a fair one, is more realistic that the farcical one the Labour Party uses in its propaganda
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 4:12 pm
Dubious at best and IIRC the Maori language doesn’t use the s as a plural identifier..
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 4:13 pm
DPF: “I know in theory the beaches are still in public ownership [...]”
*sigh* Why is it so hard to have elections fought over facts rather than snappy-but-wrong slogans?
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 4:17 pm
I’ll never vote for anyone left of National in my life, but I think this is a bit dodgy. It’s a bit blunt and I think there must be other ways of taking a dig at Labour’s policy without verging so close to an “us versus them” approach to Maori.
Do they think bluntness is required to make a strong enough impression?
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 4:21 pm
I have to say, it does seem a bit outlandish to claim that Labour supports iwi owning the beaches, even if they can get some rights of ownership. Also the plural, as well as the singular, is “iwi”. I can’t imagine that our people who wrote the billboard didn’t know this. It’s one thing to support one law for all (which I do), but another to deliberately mangle the Maori language for a marketing gimmick.
Vote:I hope this is a joke, but the authorisation on the bottom corner leads me to fear otherwise…
May 30th, 2005 at 4:28 pm
I think it’s a great billboard. National’s policy is better than Labour’s, although both are wrong. Taking away people’s private property rights is despicable no matter what colour your skin is. Maori have every right to be pissed off. We need to return the right to make foreshore and seabed claims in court, where it should have stayed in the first place.
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 4:39 pm
About plural forms, in general we use “kiwis” as the plural – “Kiwis who live in London” is preferred to “Kiwi who lives in London”. I think that conforming to the Maori sausage within English is a more formal form. The “s” is a bit more colloquial.
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 4:40 pm
jeez, “usesage” not “sausage”.
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 4:43 pm
Kent
Vote:because as David said on his blog “substance over form tends to be more important”
May 30th, 2005 at 4:44 pm
The plural of “iwi” may or may not be “iwi”, but I have regularly heard both the Minister of Maaori Affairs, and Tariana Turia refer to “huis”, so it is at least arguable that this is an acceptable alternative.
And if, of course, you claim that Maaori words have identical plural and singular forms, then why has no-one seen fit to point out that the plural of “kiwi” would be “kiwi”?
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 5:04 pm
sock thief, I can’t resist asking are you a genealogist? Maori humour always was quite earthy and your freudian slip would have everyone rolling on the ground. Maori sausage in English eh? You bet, Man!!!
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 5:08 pm
What a revolting ad, especially as DPF points out, it is a lie as well.
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 5:11 pm
“It’s one thing to support one law for all (which I do), but another to deliberately mangle the Maori language for a marketing gimmick.”
What utter pretentiousness and snobbery. Virtually every brand name and slogan mangles English for a marketing gimmick, why should Maori be immune to this?
McDonalds spells the “through” wrongly in drive-thru! Quick, call the culture police at once!
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 5:25 pm
what a tacky racist ad..and factually incorrect as well..
i mean, who in nz dosen’t know clark refused to give sovereignty over the foreshore and seabed to maori..?
so wtf is the billboard actually saying…?
is this a harbinger of nationals’ campaigning tactics..?
if so, this is good news for the centre-left..
phil(whoar.co.nz)
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 5:31 pm
This is an atrocious ad for which the Nats will rightly be vilified for.
Vote:The last one was good, and at least reasonably accurate. This one is factually incorrect and whats even worse displays the worst bits about National’s already horrendous policy on the foreshore and seabed.
May 30th, 2005 at 5:33 pm
The word “thru” is actually classed as an informal way of spelling “Through” – see Concise Oxford Dictionary 10th ED – So technically it’s not really written “wrongly”.
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 5:46 pm
By the way, It is a very embarrassing billboard (for the Nats), just like Brash’s “tax cuts before xmas” u-turn.
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 5:50 pm
DPF: Can you confirm whether or not this really is an official National Party ad? If not, Stephen Joyce should sue for defamation.
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 5:56 pm
It’s a bit of a shocker. I know otherwise, because I’m interested in politics, but people who care less will be encouraged to think Iwis aren’t Kiwis by the billboard. Trust me, people are that thick. Ever been to rural, white New Zealand?
OTOH, Brashy’s gormless smile is quite amusing.
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 6:04 pm
What a hopeless mob of humourless wowsers! Do you think we original citizens don’t know how to laugh at ourselves? Its a bloody funny ad and a damned good one.
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 6:13 pm
I think it’s very funny, extremely accurate, exactly hits the right note, and will be very popular when it’s mounted on billboards, buses, on the sides of buildings, and in laser light shows. Excellent. About time people started holding Clark and her lousy government to account.
RWDB – completely agree.
P.S. I also congratulate the authors for their sensitive approach to a controversial issue.
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 6:18 pm
Oh dear, I find myself agreeing with The Whig.
When did National start advocating confiscation of private property rights in favour of nationalising them?
The Labour Party has nothing to be proud of here – they should have let the courts do their job – but this is even worse.
PS: love the implication that Maori (“iwi”) are not New Zealanders (“Kiwis”). Mmm.
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 6:33 pm
sorry reckon this one is a complete dud – most kiwis – maori and pakeha see the foreshore legislation as riding over Maori property rights – its a bit too sophisticated to say you have to believe they exist before you can take them away
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 6:43 pm
How about:
Who controls the banks?
Vote:Jews. Germans.
May 30th, 2005 at 6:47 pm
Stephen Judd – Iwi aren’t New Zealanders, individual Maaori are New Zealanders.
Everyone – this is about beaches (hence the word “Beaches” in the ad) – this ad is designed to work on many levels. Certainly there is the foreshore/seabed debate aspect to it, but you can also see it as a reaction to the inordinate power given to iwi (i.e. not given to individual Maaori) in the RMA, the Local Government Act, or things like aquaculture.
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 7:03 pm
A fair comeback, Graeme. I reckon there’s considerable ambiguity there. But if the National Party wants to run with it, that’s up to them.
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 7:17 pm
nah sorry mate, if you have to explain it it doesnt work – should have tried for something clever about the RMA.
maybe something like – who should get a say on what sort of house you live in?
labour – iwi representatives, taniwha, tree huggers, sandal wearers, comunity activists, community representatives, eco-building “experts”, urban living consultants, council planning officers, etc
national – you
Or about power:
What should your electricity bill pay for:
labour- RMA consent process hearings, Iwi consultations, Taniwha, energy “activists”, wind farm enthusiasts, conservation lobbyists, community consultants, alternative energy lobbyists. Submissions and hearings from people who live in Nelson but think they know better than you do…..
national: electricity.
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 8:07 pm
gazzadelsud’s suggestions are far better … they attack the labour party and its legislation etc rather than just trying to fuel racial division and hatred
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 9:12 pm
Somebody pass those suggestions from Gazzadelsud to National HQ…
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 9:37 pm
I think rightkiwi has nailed it – not about my suggestions (which are pretty lame), but about the point of the ad – you should be aiming to attack labour weakness, not voters. Everybody reading the ad needs to chuckle because there is enough in it that is true.
This labour party is weak because:
it thinks process is more important than substance
that quantum of money spent is more important than the quality of spending
buying off interest groups shows it has “principles”;
that unions care about service quality more than about member pay and conditions
you really can tax your way to prosperity;
and the doozy
because it has absolutely zero sense of humour about the importance of its “mission”.
encourage NZers to laugh at them and watch the reaction.
G
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 9:48 pm
Mellie:”Trust me, people are that thick. Ever been to rural, white New Zealand?”
Care to back up that incredibly racist and offensive statement with FACTS?
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 10:17 pm
I think you guys are getting your panties in a twist over imagined slights. Have you not been following the attempts by Whakatohea to grab 50km worth of Bay of Plenty coastline near Whakatane?
The claim was filed by a lawyer who helped Labour write the Seabed and Foreshore Act, and it goes against the very spirit of the Act as sold to New Zealanders by Helen Clark.
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 10:21 pm
More important is that it goes against the law, because the foreshore is owned by the Crown.
As for the beaches – 33% of them or somesuch are owned by National-voting rich landowners.
In either case the billboard is an offensive piece, which totally lacks the cleverness of the previous one on roads. This one unfurls National’s true colours, as we’ve been saying for sometime: divisive, and covertly (or not so covertly in this case) racist.
You’ll have to do better than this if you want to win an election, kids. Government for all the people, remember? Not just the white ones.
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 10:34 pm
It freaks me out that the same people who thought this ad was a good idea might be running the country in a few months time. Maybe I will be holding my nose and voting Labour after all . . .
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 10:42 pm
Perhaps Labour could borrow these billboards for their attempt at taking the Maori seats. Evidently people are a lttle riled up about the Foreshore and Seabed law. Looks like Turia and co were wrong – according to Dr Brash they already own them..
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 10:48 pm
Clearly one Tim Castle disagrees, as does the Maori Land Court.
“The tribe says they have Rangatiratanga and Kaitiakitanga – mana and guardianship – of the stretch of Bay of Plenty coastline and therefore should be given control.”
“But constitutional lawyer Mai Chen says the decision by the Maori Land Court to hear the claim appears to conflict with the government’s intentions.
“The real difficulty here is the uncertainty. This is a completely new piece of legislation, it has never been tried before. With this judgement or this minute that has come down from the Maori Land Court, it does appear that they’re adopting a much broader approach than I think parliament would have intended,” says Chen.
While Chen warns more legislation may be needed, Labour is defending the law.”
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/news_national_story_skin/481742%3fformat=html
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 11:00 pm
I don’t think it’s pretentious to respect the Maori language when in the exact same ad you are advocating taking away Maori property rights. It’s one thing to say that as a matter of public policy you want to nationalise the seabed and foreshore, its quite another to make an ad about it that mimicks the language of a McDonalds sign.
Vote:I am not the sort of person to go all PC, but if we are going to take away Maori rights, we can at least do it in a professional manner, not behaving like bloody rednecks.
Still, if we limit the ad’s exposure to the Christchuch electorates, Tauranga, Rodney, for example, we could probably get a few votes…
May 30th, 2005 at 11:07 pm
I agree wholeheartedly with Michael and Jordan. For the first time ever. And probably for the last time ever. This ad is offensive and not even correct. I hope to hell National doesn’t use it.
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 11:24 pm
I think this ad is
a) grossly offensive
b) factually innacurate
c) good billboard to demonstrate how pathetic and visionless National really are.
Is the National Party marketing committee (assuming they have one) seriously that lacking in vision that all they can come up with is that?
What I want to know is, since I would apparently fall into the ‘kiwi’s half of that billboard, what would the National Party do that would do anything to help me own part of a beach? I have a student loan and not a hope in hell of owning property any time soon, let alone with a beach.
Vote:May 30th, 2005 at 11:31 pm
Is this what National’s election campaign comes down to? Outright racism and outright lies?
Vote:May 31st, 2005 at 12:32 am
Yes.
Vote:May 31st, 2005 at 1:02 am
You were expecting anything less?
Vote:May 31st, 2005 at 7:04 am
Hummm… let’s talk about lies. Of course, this time Labour is going to run television ads are aren’t found to be factually inaccurate and misleading by the Advertising Standards Authority.
I also had a very interesting conversation with my (very anxious) Grandmother last night, regarding a conversation she had with a Labour canvasser recently who told her Don Brash was going to close down the local hospital, sack Police officers, cut her pension and take away her home care.
Perhaps, Jordan, you could use your position of influence in the Labour Party to tell your canvassers to cut out telling lies to 94 year-old women.
Oh, and I’m also going to enjoy watching Labour roll out the personal attacks on Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples.
Vote:May 31st, 2005 at 8:05 am
The Gnats Gknow they’ve hit a Gnerve when so many lefties lurch out to launch their attacks, most from the nether regions of the night. Ask John Tamihere. He will tell you that never in the history of New Zealand have so few words had so many different meanings for so many people. When people look back they will say – this was Michael Cullen’s finest hour. Just change a word here and there and you can tell the Maoris they’s get all the benefits of ownership while at the same time you tell the rest of the nation that ownership is retained by the Crown. A damned fine billboard it is.
Vote:May 31st, 2005 at 8:38 am
I don’t think the ad is particularly clever but it certainly isn’t racist. The beaches belonging to Kiwis seems far more inclusive than anything Labour have dreamed up.
Vote:By the way, is it possible that Pakeha have a perfectly valid way of speaking Te Reo? With respect, there are quite a few Maori who absolutely mangle the English language. Why is it so bad that Pakeha mangle Maori (not deliberately of course)?
May 31st, 2005 at 8:39 am
re: update – who in the national party is leaking to Aaron Bhatnagar then?
Vote:May 31st, 2005 at 8:59 am
does anyone else think this is about testing the water for national’s ad campaign? the billboard is not really up anywhere (yet) and we are all providing an excellent focus group…
Vote:May 31st, 2005 at 9:10 am
yup, but i don’t have any problem with that
I notice that comments on David’s site are a lot more thoughtful than the comments on Aaron’s which is a bit of an echo chamber sometimes
If the Nats are smart enough to tap the brains and goodwill (and bad too – hi Jordan, dim (who *might* have to vote labour now – ha ha plonker), Idiot et al) to hone the message at no cost, then good on ‘em
of course if McCully is still running “strategy” this might all be a bit too much to hope.
Vote:May 31st, 2005 at 9:17 am
If we are an informal focus group, so be it, and my immediate reaction would be not to run with this ad. I’m not convinced it is racist per se, but it conveys the impression of racism, and I believe it is better to leave this sort of thing to Winston.
Vote:May 31st, 2005 at 9:30 am
Spanner – the cheque is in the mail for participating
I saw it on Aaron’s site, and assumed it was a replica of billboards already up. It seems it isn’t. Bit it isn’t a deliberate ‘test’ or anything, even though I am sure some people may find the reactions interesting.
Vote:May 31st, 2005 at 9:32 am
From Aaron Bhatnager’s Blog:
“Where is this sign located?”
“it is located on the cnr of nelson and hobson sts”.
Is it already up or not?
Vote:May 31st, 2005 at 9:47 am
I think it would be funnier if it was all in lower case. Then it could appear to have just been a typo.
Vote:May 31st, 2005 at 10:10 am
You’d think at least one leftie would have enough brains to drive up Nelson St and realise it is parallel to Hobson St. Might be quite hard to find a corner although I havn’t looked at a map to check.
Vote:May 31st, 2005 at 10:15 am
boy you are in real trouble when you have to make stuff up to put on a bill board…
wheres the policy?
Vote:May 31st, 2005 at 10:43 am
The nats should just focus on the issues of Health, Tax, Education, Law & Order.
EG NZ Police Priorities
LABOUR
-Driving the PM at 160KM/hr to rugby matches
-Speed cameras
-25% more traffic tickets per annum
-Checking WOF, Rego
-Vehicle pollution, noise, confiscation
NATIONAL
Vote:-Crime
May 31st, 2005 at 11:24 am
Didnt national oppose the legislation… funny they wanted Kiwis to own the beaches but voted against it with the Greens and the Maori party.
Vote:Will the next board have Don windsurfing …?
May 31st, 2005 at 12:22 pm
Personally, I think this ad is
a) moderately offensive
b) factually innacurate
c) hilarious
The bad grammar (“Iwis”) combined with the inaccuracy is what makes it funny. It might be better with the Red & Blue sides switched, I think, so you read “Kiwis” first, and then “Iwis” as the punchline, though I guess the visual composition would suffer.
I don’t expect National will run with something like this, as it is more likely to alienate voters in the centre (people like me, for example) than it is to pick up anti-Maori voters. I wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out to be someone testing the waters (or even a Bhatnager original?)
Vote:May 31st, 2005 at 1:56 pm
can’t speak for other lefties Adolf but i am rather too busy at work to nip out for an hour to check if a billboard is there or not. maybe you could do us the honour?
Vote:May 31st, 2005 at 2:18 pm
Spanner, Spanner, Spanner. It’s all just to subtle for Lefties. There is no such place as corner of Nelson and Hobson streets. When did the Labour Party last buy the Eiffel Tower? More inportantly, did they get value for money?
Vote:May 31st, 2005 at 2:22 pm
I think this ad is clever, funny, and powerful. It will strike a nerve with the type of voter National are trying to win over. It will make people talk just as it has provoked the response it has on this site. Ithought when I first saw it..At last National are getting their strategy right, yet now I see National supporters being precious and Politically correct about the tactic.. Get real, you won’t get anywhere with the tired old billboards of the past elections. You can guarantee Labour who already have the most money, control TVone and its staffers and have the support of most of the gallery are going to play fair.
Vote:May 31st, 2005 at 2:28 pm
Adolf – I’m a bit too busy at work to nip out for an hour to check whether a billboard is on a street corner or not – perhaps you could do the honours?
Vote:May 31st, 2005 at 2:48 pm
A map of Hobson and Nelson Streets:
Vote:http://sirhumphreys.blogspot.com/2005/05/nelson-and-hobson-streets.html
May 31st, 2005 at 3:52 pm
Just a suggestion for all the experts on Maori grammar hereabouts, how about making your next ten comments on this blog in te reo?
Vote:May 31st, 2005 at 5:02 pm
wouldn’t they all just boil down to whakarongo mai, Craig?
Adolf – fair cop! Tell you what, I’ll meet you at that bar on the corner of Dominion and Sandringham and shout you a beer to make up for it
Vote:May 31st, 2005 at 7:21 pm
Ah, Span, you really should go on the WPGA.
Vote:May 31st, 2005 at 9:10 pm
I can barely see the point of posting to blogs that are so entrenched in their own ideas, “preaching to the converted”, “falling on deaf ears” …. but here I am…
So, its refreshing to see other blogs such as http://artificialintelligentsia.typepad.com/artificial_intelligentsia/ totally taking the piss (and not taking comments because he doesn’t care what others think!).
I find AI and Frog Blog so refreshing in the introspective navel gazing world of the NZ political blogosphere. But, that’s just my opinion and I assume (naturally) that the devoted audience here won’t agree. Becuase of course, you are al intellgent peopel inthe obver 30′s (probbaly) bracket and we marketsers all know that (for the most part) you have alreayd decided what is right asnd wrong in life and wil devote less time to further considerin so.
DPF, I really respect you as an intelligent blogger, but peresonally I’d try to lose the teenage giggles … these ads are already past their use-by date. They will appeal to NZ First voters, but I can’t imagine pinot gris sipping Aucklanders really taking them seriously. Good for a laugh maybe …
Vote:May 31st, 2005 at 10:11 pm
Lawrence – unless I am mistaken AI is female, not male.
As for teenage giggles, if I haven’t changed by now I don’t think I ever will be!
Vote:June 1st, 2005 at 3:03 pm
Heres a more accurate billboard
http://www.aocafe.com/images/beaches.jpg
From: http://www.aocafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=14059#14059
Vote:June 1st, 2005 at 3:53 pm
whatever Rangi. Just stick to your racist beliefs. Fucking racist.
Vote:June 1st, 2005 at 4:18 pm
Glad you enjoyed it Kimble. I must admit, I haven’t been called a racist in a long while, but then, I haven’t been on this blog in an exact and equal amount of time, glad Im back…I missed you too
Vote:June 1st, 2005 at 4:20 pm
Have just seen two actual billboards in Auckland, which must have gone up today.
1) On Khyber Pass (Opposite Lion Brewery),
Beaches:
Iwi/Kiwi
2) On Mt Eden Rd (roughly opposite Galbraith’s, visible coming from the city)
Vote:What’s best for our children:
Excuses/Exams
June 1st, 2005 at 7:56 pm
The beaches one is also up on Newton Gully, just after you cross the North Western heading north, although I was pretty sure it said Iwi/Kiwis.
Vote:June 16th, 2005 at 10:46 pm
Im a young man with both Maori and Celtic blood… I think that my iwi is my identity it is rich and deep… and very seperate from what most people term as ‘Maari’ the native people of Aotearoa did not have a written language… so I keep hearing… to me all my ancestors history from Britan to Aotearoa to the America’s is written in my eye’s… so unless Brash is saying this to Maori on the Marae’s of NZ… I look at this as no more than what they do every day in office… throw remarks and talk over one another….. but be carefull about throwing ‘Maori’ in general in the mix we used to kill one another… just as the Celts did… but when allies we are able to topple any force.
never been on the dole… and Im a Guardian of Waiheke Island.
Vote: