National further in mire over attack on Grey Power

A National Party attempt to deflect attention from its attack on Grey Power's alleged favouritism has backfired, after it inadvertently provided material suggesting one of the group's branches was biased in its favour.

Ironically, the pro-National branch in question is in Tauranga, the electorate held by Winston Peters, leader of New Zealand First, the party National leader Don Brash has accused Grey Power of supporting.

The Herald yesterday revealed that Dr Brash had written to Grey Power president Graham Stairmand criticising the group for nailing its colours "so overtly in support of NZ First".

Mr Stairmand wrote back firmly rejecting the accusation, which he labelled inappropriate.

Mr Peters yesterday released copies of the letters when giving a speech to Grey Power members at Pakuranga College, accusing Dr Brash of "desperate" politics.

He said National's discourtesy had extended to bombarding Grey Power members' vehicles parked outside meetings he was speaking at with leaflets, despite a Grey Power complaint.

Dr Brash has been kept out of the debate, but his office released to the Herald an email from a Tauranga Grey Power official alerting National's Tauranga candidate, Bob Clarkson, to an offer from Prime Minister Helen Clark's office to fund a mail-out for a meeting it wanted Grey Power to organise next week.

National said the offer was evidence that Helen Clark was abusing taxpayers' money - a claim she denied - and argued that this was the real story.

But the email also contained a comment that revealed the meeting's organiser, whose name was blanked out, was working to arrange the order of the meetings in National's interests.

To "keep the balance" with Labour "we want to extend the same opportunity to NZ First (Winston Peters) and Dr Don Brash, National", the email said.

"I believe it would [be] to National's advantage to go last, so NZ First was invited next."

Mr Peters said the release of the email was just another example of National's "naivety and inexperience".

"A Grey Power official who is playing that sort of funny game is doing so at the expense of the membership."