Racism mars NZ poll campaign

WELLINGTON, Aug 14 (AP): A surprising theme has emerged in New Zealand's election campaign: racism. Racially charged comments made by the leaders of two political parties and a candidate for a third have struck a jarring tone in this South Pacific nation of 4.5 million people, which generally prides itself on its tolerance.

Political billboards have even been defaced with anti-Semitic slurs. At Sunday's campaign launch for the anti-immigration New Zealand First party, leader Winston Peters lit into the government for allowing farms to be sold to foreign buyers, including those from China.