Labour broadens its campaign attack against National

Labour has launched a second wave of its advertising campaign with additions to its "flying baby" billboards and newspaper ads attacking National's nuclear policy stance.

Cabinet minister and Labour strategist Pete Hodgson said the party would introduce a number of newspaper ads and billboards during the parliamentary recess.

One billboard repeats the flying baby theme supported by four strands labelled "increased family support", "cheaper doctor visits", "3600 more nurses" and "paid parental leave".

Hovering near the strands is a pair of blue scissors with National's logo.

Labour has also begun an attack-advertising campaign this week against National's nuclear policy.

It features newspaper ads suggesting National might ditch New Zealand's nuclear policy after an election without a clear mandate - which leader Don Brash has angrily denied.

The ad reads: "New Zealand's nuclear-free policy. According to Don Brash is it: A) Gone by lunchtime? B) Gone after a referendum? C) Gone after an election? D) All of the above depending on who he's talking to? Yep D. You're better off with Labour."

National's stance is that the policy should not be changed without a clear public mandate, either by a referendum or by a manifesto promise.

The policy was first stated by Dr Brash in May last year after the party released an internal report into New Zealand's relationship with the United States.

National is planning no manifesto promise this election. But a reiteration of the second part of the policy in a provincial newspaper was seized on by Prime Minister Helen Clark as a changed position.

- STAFF REPORTER, NZPA