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Used-car importers are reconsidering an aggressive advertising campaign after Prime Minister Helen Clark took umbrage over a report that it would depict her as a clown.
The Independent Motor Vehicle Dealers Association has put newspaper adverts due to run this morning on hold while it reviews a $300,000 publicity and lobbying exercise against proposed tough emission standards for secondhand imports.
CEO David Vinsen said other parts of the campaign were proceeding, but his organisation was reconsidering whether the advertisements were still warranted in view of strong indications that Government officials would recommend a phase-in period for petrol vehicle standards after January 1.
He said the association remained most concerned that the officials were maintaining a tough line against diesel imports by intending to recommend to the Cabinet that only those manufactured to standards introduced in Japan between 2002 and 2004 be allowed into New Zealand.
The association's rethink followed comments by Helen Clark on Friday.
"She was scathing about the fact some sectors of the industry have gathered together a war-chest for an aggressive advertising campaign against their [the Government's] emissions policy, and she made it appear we were acting against the best intentions of the Government and the country," Mr Vinsen said yesterday.
He said his association shared a common aim with the Government, of reducing emissions, but believed imposing unrealistic standards to restrict the supply of imports would be counter-productive by forcing people of modest means to hold on longer to older and dirtier vehicles.
