TVNZ Now Making Up Poll Information

The Māori Party wants an apology from TVNZ after the state broadcaster used a "made up" party logo during its news broadcasts on Thursday.

Two incorrect logos were used for a graphic during a story about the results of the latest Colmar Brunton poll, which screened at the top of Thursday's bulletins.

This graphic, shown on TVNZ's news shows last night, depicts incorrect logo for two parties.

The graphic showed an old logo for the Act Party, but the image it used for the Māori Party was "just something they made up", according to the party's president Che Wilson.

"They should be doing their homework to make sure that they are correct," he said. 

"If it continues then it would impact on brand recognition for us at the election."

Māori Party president Che Wilson said the party "should have an apology" from TVNZ over the blunder.

The logo TVNZ used last night was brown and included a circular image with a stylised koru-like symbol inside it, similar to the "o" in the real logo. The word "Māori" was written in white upper-case letters with no macron over the "a".

In reality, the Māori Party logo is black and red on a white background with "Māori" written in lower-case with a macron.

Act Party leader David Seymour was less concerned about the blunder, saying: "If they used our real logo, ACT would go up even faster."

The actual Māori Party logo.

Wilson said he wanted assurance that, particularly in an election year, "it won't happen again and that it's correct, because New Zealand needs to see our brand like they see every other party's brand."

The Māori Party secretary had written to TVNZ to ask for that assurance. 

What's more, Wilson said, "We should get an apology."

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The story with the incorrect logos aired live at 6pm and was replayed in the late 10pm news. Both episodes are available to view on TVNZ OnDemand.

TVNZ has been approached for comment.

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