Are National’s ads fake news?

Part of being a good Opposition is attacking when you see the opportunity, then making hay while the sun shines. National has been ramping up its attack ads ahead of the Government’s first Budget next week but some may have over-stepped the mark.

The party has posted a new meme, claiming the Government would spend $1 billion funding foreign diplomats, at the expense of cheaper GP visits. The prime minister has called this ‘‘fake news’’.

But this ‘‘attack ad’’ is not an isolated incident. National’s social media has been heavily populated with memes and short videos opposing government policies and calling into questions its plans and ability to keep promises.

National is in the enviable position of having plenty left in its coffers after a strong round of donations for last year’s election – almost $4.6 million – which gives it the ability to spend on ads and memes to appeal to voters.

The professionally-made ads put a negative spin on things like taxes and the Government’s slew of working groups – topics National has consistently challenged Labour on.

More than 94,000 people like National’s Facebook page, and about 15,500 people follow it on Twitter. There will be some crossover between the different platforms but the party has a massive reach across the country and is helped here by its youth wing, the Young Nats, which usually shares the party’s posts.

So far, so normal if you’re the Opposition. However, some of the ads are more than misleading, they’re factually incorrect.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called out the National Party for manufacturing, and spreading, ‘‘fake news’’.

The term ‘‘fake news’’ – the spreading of propaganda or misinformation – has gained notoriety thanks to United States President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly called out media outlets, including CNN, for publishing news he disagrees with.

Trump’s frequent use of the term may be slightly off at times but it does beg the question: are National’s ads smart politicking at a time when the country is watching what the Government will prioritise in terms of funding or has the party over-stepped the line?

National’s latest meme relates to the Government’s foreign affairs and aid spending, which was posted on National’s Facebook page. It read ‘‘$1 billion for diplomats vs cheaper GP visits’’ and showed pictures of Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Ardern.

On Tuesday, Peters announced almost $1b for foreign affairs and aid over the next four years. In reality, only $150.4m of that will go towards the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s operational expenditure. The bulk – $714.2m – is aid and development money, primarily for the Pacific region.

‘‘We are not spending a billion dollars on diplomats,’’ Ardern said. ‘‘What they’ve said there is absolutely incorrect.’’

But National knows the tactic of saying this money comes at the expense of much-needed healthcare will play well with voters.

Some might say: ‘‘That’s just politics’’, and largely they’d be right.’’

Labour has spoken extensively about how the former National Government underfunded, even ‘‘neglected’’, hospitals and schools. But, while health and education can always use more money, National did boost funding for school property to $5b in 2008, and in 2017 it allocated another $4b.

Clearly, no political party has the monopoly on circulating misleading messages.