National Party defends use of crime footage in campaign attack ad

The New Zealand National Party is facing accusations of dishonesty from the Labour Party following the release of a campaign attack ad featuring violent crime footage. While the advertisement aims to portray the Labour Party as soft on crime, reports indicate that several clips depict incidents that occurred after the National-led coalition government took office in November 2023.

Specific instances identified include a smash-and-grab at a Mount Maunganui jewellery store in January 2024 and an armed robbery in Manurewa in April 2024. National Party campaign chair Simeon Brown defended the use of the footage, stating that the party is being “very focused and very honest” and emphasizing that new legislation has since been passed to improve safety.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon acknowledged that some images may have been captured before certain laws took full effect but maintained that the core message—that crime is down—remains accurate. Labour campaign chair Kieran McAnulty criticized the move as “desperate,” accusing the National Party of attempting to mislead voters.