Judith Collins Apologizes For ‘Misleading’ Ad After President Forces National To Recall It

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Trevor Mallard, has forced the National Party to remove a “misleading” ad on social media, which altered and misrepresented a written question.

Although the ad was authorized by national leader Judith Collins, Mallard said she assured her that she did not see it prior to publication.

Mallard said it was National general manager Greg Hamilton who was in charge of the job.

However, Collins apologized and assured the spokesperson that the material would not be posted on social media again.

The announcement included the text of a written question that National Health spokesperson Shane Reti had asked Health Minister Chris Hipkins.

It had a fake ministerial letterhead and the Labor Party logo.

This, according to Mallard, was intended to “give authenticity to the misrepresentation.”

“Under normal circumstances, I would be inclined to find that this is a matter of privilege and refer the matter to the Committee on Privileges,” he said in the House this afternoon.

The Privileges Committee acts as the guardian of the rules of Parliament and MPs are sent there if they go against the rules in any significant way.

However, since Collins apologized for the ad and withdrew it, Mallard said he does not intend to take any further action.

It was Hipkins who complained about the ad; said it was an “alteration and misrepresentation of an answer to a written question,” Mallard said.

This isn’t the first time National has been in trouble with its advertising.

In February, National lost an appeal to the Advertising Standards Authority over a Facebook ad that they were forced to remove.

That was in connection with an ad criticizing the government’s proposed clean vehicle rate plan.