An uncritical media were culpable in promoting National's main campaign promise, the FUBAR tax policy, repeating the parties own spin with headlines like,
"Families in line for $250 a fortnight under National tax cut" - The Press
"National's tax plan offers average households with kids $250 and Kiwi workers $50 a fortnight." - the Herald
"National promises $250 more a fortnight for average households" - Interest.co.nz
"National's Big Bang tax announcement a good political move" - Jessica Much-McKay TVNZ
The media spent more time questioning how they were going to pay for it than realising (or anyone correcting them) that an average individual without kids might get $4.15 per week instead of $250 a fortnight.
And eventually when the CTU & a couple of journalists put the numbers to Nicola Willis, they were initially met with bluster & accusations of smear tactics by Labour, until National had to admit they knew all along they would only go to 3000 out of millions of families & households.
You have to wonder just how far ahead in the polls National would be if the public hadn't been so misled these last few weeks.
An interesting read.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/progr...licy-headlines