Greens lodge complaint over ‘backing the gangs’ billboard

The Sensible Sentencing Trust is "formally challenging" Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick to meet with it - and victims of gang violence - before the November 7 election. The lobby group launched election attack ads featuring both Green co-leaders Swarbrick and Marama Davidson, as well as Labour leader Chris Hipkins, alongside the text "BACKING THE GANGS" above the Greens' campaign slogan "for all of us". Swarbrick described the ads an "entirely new low" and called on Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to condemn the "despicable downgrading of democracy". The party has complained to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). JC Decaux, the media company that owns the billboards, told RNZ it had paused the ads while it reviewed the concerns raised. Sensible Sentencing Trust spokesperson Louise Parsons said the Greens' outrage over the ads was deeply hypocritical - citing its candidates campaigning with gang members.