A sitting Member of Parliament has upset some parents by giving school children swag bags of National Party branded merchandise. Wairarapa MP Mike Butterick has visited most schools across the district delivering tote bags, pens and notebooks, stress balls, lunchboxes and mints all emblazoned with the National Party logo, his name, contact details and the House of Representatives’ crest. The Ministry of Education said in general, schools can support learning about politics, but they must not allow political promotion, campaigning, or advertising on school grounds.
Butterick said it was not campaigning or advertising, but a way to provide his contact details to constituents through students and their families. One school spoken to by RNZ said it made them feel uncomfortable, but they did not know what to do. A post on social media also shows a picture of the lunchboxes piled into a bin. One parent from Norsewood said her young children came home with two bags full of Butterick merchandise last term. It made them uncomfortable, and they thought
politicians shouldn’t be allowed near schools and children to promote themselves. Another mother said her child bought the political marketing home last year to her shock. “They aren’t even old enough to vote or even truly understand what these MPs stand for, so why are they pushing themselves onto children so young.” Her daughter was less than impressed with the loot she said. “We just laughed. We are quite politically outspoken at home and so my daughter already knew she didn’t like Mike [Butterick] or
the National Party, so we weren’t too worried about her being influenced by it.” But the mum said she could see how other families might feel really uncomfortable about it. She said a friend’s child had a different attitude and was very impressed by the free stationery. The Ministry of Education has strict rules about how politics and the school system should engage, but Butterick said it was all about making himself known to the community. “A large part of my role is about engaging
with the public and promoting what happens in Parliament, from explaining the role of a MP and a minister, to how parliamentary processes work.” He said he had visited most schools in his district. “During these visits, I enjoy discussing with students what the role of a local MP entails and providing guidance on how they can contact me as their representative. ” The ministry said schools are required to be politically neutral as Crown entities. They are allowed to teach politics but not endorse
or facilitate promotion. “Schools can engage with elected representatives and candidates where it supports teaching and learning, such as civics education. “However, those interactions must remain clearly educational in nature and cannot be used to promote a political party or campaign.” The guidance said schools cannot show political party information, “including… other political party advertising material”. It’s up to the school to make sure these expectations were met and sat with school leadership. Butterick said it was not political advertising and had publicity approval under
the speaker’s directions. “These bags are a useful way to advertise my contact details as the local MP, designed to make it easier for students and their families to connect with me and to encourage involvement in parliamentary processes or assist with local issues. ” He said he would collect the bags from schools who did not want them for redistribution. The ministry said it was not aware of the circumstances or context of the situation raised. “Any assessment of whether the guidance has been
followed would depend on the specific facts.”
Mike Butterick, Wairarapa, National Party, school swag, school supplies, Ministry of Education, political advertising, political neutrality, parents