Written By: - Date published: 3:35 pm, September 1st, 2008 - 98 comments
Categories: election 2008, national, spin -
Tags: billboards, waste
Perhaps I’ve overestimated the National Party’s PR machine. I mean I’ve seen them run their C/T strategy pretty well and, as much as I hate to admit it, Ansell’s billboards were pretty bloody good last time.
But then I opened the PDF with their latest billboard on it. It’s busy, the message is confusing, and the strapline seems completely at odds with the lines they’ve been building up for the past five years.
‘Wave goodbye to higher taxes’? Wave goodbye to a big chunk of your campaign spend for no real reason more like.
If I was the Waitemata Trust I’d be asking for my money back.
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Scoopit!
Choose a frightning future, Party vote National
r0b: A mate of mine has come up with the following, which has a zen simplicity:
NATIONAL: NOT YOUR LOVED ONES
L
How are Labours billboards coming along? Is Owens’ cheque still in the mail?
All this talk about Iraq, is far leftist speak. Most Kiwis know that idea is a complete fallacy i.e it ain’t happening. Your suggestion Tane, will have no currency with the masses.
Rob – Your are the biggest sycophant out there. I’ve never once heard you criticise your party and you seem to be the only person who defends your party’s use of C/T. Not even your party’s leaders like to acknowledge it. And Rob the brain drain is a myth.
NATIONAL: NOT YOUR LOVED ONES
Love it!
Bring Back The Lash !
Bring Back Muldoon !
Not sure what’s stranger ?
That one of the major political parties can’t come up with something better with all the talented marketeers about in NZ or that Lynn seems to have a good knowledge of feminine hygiene products.
Lynn, what do you know abut tampon packaging. Anyway it is definately trying to minimise leakage of blood – between Winston and Helen no doubt. Perhaps thats the problem, Helen doesnt have any
I don’t know why they bothered – it’s a little clumsy but has a message that has some relevance.
It would have been a lot easier to put a billboard up and say “Vote for Helen and get Winston for free”.
Strange that while the rest of the country is trying to work out why Helen is happy to continue to work with Winston, the big topic at the Standard is a billboard. Not to mention why Helen never acknowledged that her Minister was being charitable with the truth.
Isn’t that a bit weak, too?
So John Key left to go overseas, why did he do that?
People have been coming and going from here for quite a while now.
I have been away and come back a couple of years later 3 times so far. I have always bought back more than I left with too, knowledge, experience, wealth….
I personally don’t know anyone that left because the taxes were too high here.
The amusing and absolutely f**king ironic thing is, that the meaning of this billboard flies so far over the top of your heads. The airplane flying to the right is so apt.
Lads, you’ve been done brilliantly. ROFL.
doh. yeah right. excuse me while I go to the lavatory. it seems to have affected my bladder.
Wave goodbye to competence.
I don’t think using images of airplanes on a billboard with the words “Wave goodbye … not your loved ones” is a good idea, particularly in 10 days time. Let’s just hope it’s not erected anywhere near the US consulate or embassy.
Some great ideas in this thread, I look forward to seeing some of them mocked up!
lprent, not sure what’s vaguely offensive about tampons? I’m prepared to concede many people seem them as icky (and I tend to that view despite my best intentions) but it’s more because of our silly ideas about bodies imho. anyway, that’s a rant for another time and place.
It’ll be interesting to see if the rest of National’s campaign is along the lines of this billboard, focusing on something they perceive NZers don’t like about the current govt (in this case higher taxes which is weird because Labour has cut taxes – higher than what exactly?). I wonder what they’ll pick in future? Perhaps wave goodbye to telling you how to parent (s59), wave goodbye to underfunded schools (return to bulk-funding, oops, sorry I mean “the fully funded option”)?
It’s kind of weird to have to think about these sort of double negative thingies.
what about Labour – hanging by a thread…
Here’s a blank billboard for you guys to add your comments to!
http://i33.tinypic.com/34oo4co.jpg
I just consider them to be a normal part of living. Anyone who spends any time around farms or medics (as I have done) loses any squeamishness pretty fast.
However I’ve noticed a certain degree of squeamishness about almost any body process, sexual preference, or even that they have a body around KB’s comments section. I suspect that there are an awful lot of prudish urbanites amongst them. Always useful to use a lever at a level below the conscious level.
However I’m sure someone can come up with something more effective than that.
hs: Comes of having women around your life. In particular adolescent female relatives getting tutoring for exams. You stash a supply in the bathroom cupboard.
The billboard does look like some kind of box packaging…
Daveski – How about “Vote for Key get Douglas for free.” That one rhymes too.
Here you go. Sorry I don’t have the correct font:
http://i33.tinypic.com/2ebe51u.jpg
Was looking at your PDF link and act funds in particular.
2006. Association of Consumers and Taxpayer $37 413.00
2005. G Mallet $20 200.00
Sky City $12 000.00
Like Winnie maybe Rodney Should be investigated for undeclared funds
$37 Thou to run act? and $32 the year before? got to worth the examination iwould have thought.
when national would not run a candidate against wodney then how come it even cost that much?
capcha: j. rolly….?
Now, where have I seen that imagery before?
Those planes are definitely coming home. Very few of our travellers head off to Chile or Argentina.
Those fast forward arrows point into a vague future under National. Pretty honest there when we have few policies, or at least policies that are contradicted the moment they are released.
The irony is that last time it was the billbooards that allowed the Nats to have a chance. If this is the best they can do, then I can understand why many on the left are so confident.
By the way, who is the English Tory who subsidised the Howard campaign in Australia who was at Key’s place over the weekend? I guess the Nats and Conservatives could be considered brethren of sorts, but how exclusive?
My partner and I are fairly smart people. My first thought on reading this? “Holy fuck, are they actually saying people will die if I don’t vote National?” His first thought? “Holy shit, death camps?” Not exactly on-message, there.
@Mike: really good point there. Not well-played, National.
Which one is Biggles flying? Red fox to blue bomber command. Over.
Red Barron 3 O’Clock over.
Hang on, they’re not planes, they’re tyre marks.
“Nice family you got. Loved ones, ain’t they great. Be a shame if sumfing happened to ‘em, know what I mean guv?”
There is no way we could muster enough pilots to fly such a squadron, just look at the Sky Hawks rotting away at great expense to the tax payer.They are now used to house rats. Oh well, we can throw stones at the Russian Bombers. Go comrades.
How is that confusing? I know your a liberal, but think about it for a second and you might understand.
I swear, and I have said it before, you guys are just like Fox News, if someone from the other side releases something, you act all confuse and try to play dumb.
I would say 100% of people would get that.
Brett, the loony Liberals’ like playing dumb and always throw a Conservative who dares to challenge them the wet pc victimhood card.They are pathetic wimps.
Edit – Labour Blame the exclusive brethren for everything bad in kiwiland.
Well its got you guys pretty excited – talking about tampons and war planes so can’t be that ineffective.
The ‘weak’ story of the day SP is helen trying to smear the SFO and NZ Police for giving JK the heads up.
The poor old girl has gone paranoid now – call an early election Labour First to put her out of her misery.
lprent,
The most noticeable thing about tampon packages it that they do everything in their power to not look like tampon packages. For a start, why blue?!
Strangely the most noticeable thing about the National campaign is how hard they try not to look like what’s inside.
Brett, get what?
Our net emigration rate is not huge. We get lots of new, motivated migrants who replace the sad sacks who migrate to Australia thinking it is all goodness and light. We get lots of young people returning after their OE.
The use of war-time allusions to exaggerate the loss overseas will not wash with many NZers who have all loved their experience overseas. And the things that most NZ travellers cling to when shouting NZ’s accomplishments to others are matters such as nuclear free, staying away from Iraq and clean and green, all of which are far stronger under Labour than would ever be possible under Brash or the new fellow.
mike it is way past time the NEW ZEALAND POLICE stood up for the honour and oath.
Hey why aren’t you guys all over the latest issue regarding John Key?
http://www.tumeke.blogspot.com
Lord Ashcroft I presume?
The Nats have hit the spot again. Check out their other billboards at http://rodneygrub.blogspot.com