Corby holiday hell a joke too far for some

Politicians including Prime Minister Helen Clark and National Leader Don Brash have been caught up in a promotion trading on the jailing of Schapelle Corby.

Hell Pizza is offering a free boogie board and a "holiday that could last a lifetime" to Bali to one lucky person who enters a poll of which politicians should be "sent to Hell" for their sins.

If the winners return with a picture of themselves with Ms Corby, they will scoop an extra $500.

Entrants vote either online or by text message for the politicians they would like to "send to Hell".

Satanic caricatures of the politicians will be auctioned for charity when the competition closes.

Competition organisers hope to persuade all 14 MPs involved to sign the pictures and choose a charity. They say they have a "verbal agreement" from several of them.

But politicians questioned yesterday were rapidly distancing themselves from the promotion after being told about the Corby link.

A spokesman for Dr Brash confirmed he had been contacted and had originally indicated that he had no problem with the promotion.

"But Dr Brash would be unwilling to endorse anything that would be in bad taste. That sounds quite hideous and we would not put that anywhere near Don," the spokesman said.

Green MP Nandor Tanczos said he was "usually supportive" when a charity was involved and had had a quick look at the poll.

But "I don't really support the idea of making fun of someone facing 20 years in jail. It's not something I would make light of."

However, Labour MP John Tamihere said he would consider whether to endorse the auction over the weekend.

"The PC thing for me to say is that I'm absolutely aghast, but I'm quite a light-hearted sort of bloke and it doesn't upset me too much," Mr Tamihere said.

A spokesman for Helen Clark, meanwhile, said a request had been received from Hell Pizza for the Prime Minister's signature and "we are endeavouring to find out what use will be made of it before there's any decision".

Stuart McMullin, managing director of Hell Pizza, insisted the competition was not in bad taste.

"Not at all. I'm as much absorbed by it [the Schapelle Corby case] as anyone, but it's a good opportunity to have a sideswipe."

Mr McMullin, who describes himself as the company's "head demon", said the Hell brand was all about being provocative and the promotion "fits in with everything we do".

Most politicians contacted were aware of the poll, but "perhaps some are not" aware of the link to Schapelle Corby, he said.

"This whole thing is done as a bit of good fun. It's good for New Zealanders to have a laugh."

The poll pits two MPs against each other for a particular sin. Helen Clark and Dr Brash face off for envy, Mr Tanczos and Bill English go into battle for sloth and Mr Tamihere faces Winston Peters in the wrath poll.

A source at MJ Blomfield, the PR company that came up with the promotion, said there had been "at least 20" online votes from Parliament.