United pulls slurs from party site

United Future's website asked readers to rate who would make a "great PM" on rather contentious grounds. Picture / United Future Website

A personal attack on three other party leaders by United Future - including one on the ethnicity of National leader Don Brash's wife - has been removed from the party's website after complaints.

The presentation listed seven criteria for a "great PM" on the website of the centrist party, which is flatlining at 1 to 2 per cent in the polls.

The presentation marked down Prime Minister Helen Clark for her lack of experience raising a family, and NZ First leader Winston Peters for engaging in "late-night drunken brawls".

The attack - from United Future which prides itself on being able to work constructively with either major party - was uncharacteristically personal although leader Peter Dunne said it was meant as a joke.

Dr Brash was marked down for the measure stating: "Whose wife is not from Singapore" and for not having "decades of political experience".

The reference to Dr Brash's wife, Je Lan, comes from repeated comments he made while being filmed for TVNZ documentary Hurricane Brash last year.

Dr Brash and Mr Peters were attacked for not being married to "the same person for decades".

Both Helen Clark and Dr Brash were also marked down for not liking rugby, and Mr Peters earned a black mark for not being able to work constructively with others.

But Mr Dunne told the Herald the show had only been intended as a "lighthearted send-up".

It had always been intended that it be removed from the website after a "day or two".

But Mr Dunne confirmed he had received three adverse comments about the presentation yesterday, although that did not have anything to do with its removal. "I think it was a bit of a joke really. Anyone who treats it more seriously than that is reading far too much into it."

A spokesman for Dr Brash said he did not wish to dignify the comments with a response.

A spokeswoman for Mr Peters said he had no comment to make.

Helen Clark's spokesman said she was unfazed by the comments.