Billboards attacking Green co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick and MP Tamatha Paul are being displayed in central Auckland and central Wellington as part of an attack campaign co-ordinated by the Sensible Sentencing Trust.

A picture of Paul, who is also the Wellington Central MP, features in two billboards playing on a loop that can be seen from Whitmore St in the capital.

One displays her picture next to the words “Defund the Police” - likely a reference to Paul’s recent comments speculating whether some police functions could be taken over by other entities.

It also uses a “Vote Green” slogan, very similar to the party’s election campaign slogans.

Billboards with a picture of Green MP Tamatha Paul, seemingly paid for by the Sensible Sentencing Trust, have appeared in Wellington. Photo / Adam Pearse

The second is almost identical but has “Woop Woop! DEFUND DA POLICE” written on it. It’s likely this billboard is a nod to Paul’s use of Sound of da Police by rapper KRS-One during a DJ set at CubaDupa late last month.

Both billboards state they were authorised by Louise Parsons of the Sensible Sentencing Trust, an organisation that advocated for harsher crime policy, such as Three Strikes.

In a statement, Parsons confirmed similar billboards targeting Swarbrick were running in central Auckland, where Swarbrick is also the local MP.

Parsons believed both central cities faced “significant challenges in relation to public safety” and argued Green Party policy wouldn’t address concerns.

“The objective of this campaign is to highlight what and who the Green Party stand for. Because it certainly is not victims.”

The Green Party has been contacted for comment.

The Act Party has noticed the billboards, pointing to them in a video posted to its social media accounts.

Stephen Franks, a lawyer who acted as a spokesman for the trust when it was calling for the Government to strengthen its reformed Three Strikes proposal, said he didn’t know about the billboards but found them entertaining.

Speaking from a legal perspective, Franks said it was important to determine if the billboards were a genuine attempt to win votes or an attack.

Adam Pearse is a political reporter in the NZ Herald Press Gallery team, based at Parliament. He has worked for NZME since 2018, covering sport and health for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei before moving to the NZ Herald in Auckland, covering Covid-19 and crime.