This week political reporters seized on fresh figures showing the National Party overstated the benefits of its tax cut policy - and accused its leaders of misleading the public. Yet some of them had repeated the party's spin in their own reports when it was unveiled a month ago - and even praised the 'political marketing.

This week political reporters seized on fresh figures showing the National Party overstated the benefits of its tax cut policy - and accused its leaders of misleading the public. Yet some of them had repeated the party's spin in their own reports when it was unveiled a month ago - and even praised the 'political marketing.'

"The National Party has admitted that its much-feted tax cut of $250 a fortnight will only go to 3000 families. Despite knowing that number all along the party is denying it's mislead the public," Newshub at 6 told viewers on Thursday.

The revelation followed research from the Labour Party-aligned Council of Trade Unions, and Newshub political reporters spent a full frustrating day trying to pin down National for a response.

But when National's policy was first announced back in early September to ease what the party dubbed "the squeezed middle" it included claims an "average income family" with children would benefit.

But Newshub didn't mention its own reporters were among those who feted the policy in the first place.

And they weren't the only ones to give National's maximum fortnightly benefit headline billing when the policy was unveiled.

Families in line for $250 a fortnight under National tax cut, said The Press.

National promises $250 more a fortnight for average households, said Interest.co.nz.

Election 2023: National's tax plan offers average household with kids $250 and Kiwi worker $50 a fortnight, said The New Zealand Herald.

Under that Herald headline the paper's deputy political editor Thomas Coughlan pointed out "all the savings are expressed as fortnightly figures rather than weekly figures, making them look larger."

On Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell pointed out many reports also adopted the National Party's preferred unit of measurement for people as well - 'households' rather than individuals.

Also, most reports neglected to mention the $250-a-fortnight saving for a qualifying family also included $150 from the already announced Family Boost tax credit scheme. That could also replace the 20 hours of free childcare for two year-olds announced in the Budget this year. …

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details