September 25, 2020 2:00pm by David Farrar

Thanks for the free publicity

Tukituki MP Lawrence Yule is defending billboard and newspaper ads claiming he has secured funding for millions of dollars worth of infrastructure projects for Hawke’s Bay.
The Advertising Standards Authority has received two complaints relating to billboards dotted around Hastings that feature a picture of Yule alongside the words: “$500 million new build of Hawke’s Bay Hospital commencing 2025”.
The Authority was also investigating a complaint about a full-page newspaper ad in which Yule said he had “achieved a record $800 million commitment to infrastructure projects in the region.”

A real own goal by the (presumably Labour activist) person who complained. The complaints have been dismissed of course, but the complaint has led to the billboards getting publicity in most media outlets.

I think the reason Labour is so sensitive on this issue is that the Labour candidate is actually on the DHB Board, yet hasn’t managed to get Labour to commit to a new hospital, while Lawrence Yule has managed to get National to commit to one.