KEY POINTS:
The slogan says "This one's about trust" _ but the use of an actress in a Labour TV ad has voters accusing the party of being misleading.
Rachel More, a freelance theatre director from Wellington, plays Mary, a demure mother who doubts John Key's trustworthiness and ability to lead New Zealand through the recession.
"You may know a few things about money trading, Mr Key," she says, "but when it comes to my family's future, I just can't trust you."
The short clip was followed by the Labour logo and its slogan: "This one's about trust. Vote Labour."
Internet message boards have been inundated with posts from bloggers upset Labour used an actress with no children to depict an honest, hard-working mother.
More said deciding to front the ad was "a big deal" but she had no problems with the script. She would not reveal who she voted for yesterday but said she had leaned towards Labour and the Greens in the past.
"I support what I say in the ad but for me voting is personal and I don't want to divulge too much because things change," she said. "I am not a mother either, but I stand by the message in the script... I do not think it is misleading.
"Actors play bankers, lawyers, all sorts _ it's part of my job _ and an electoral campaign is no different. It's representational of the opinions of a lot of voters."
Labour Party president Mike Williams did not return calls, but the managing director of advertising agency Fresco, Fraser Carson, said actors were often used for electoral advertisements.
"Rachel was selected on the basis she agreed with what was said in the script. We used her middle name instead of her first. They were words she was comfortable saying."
