Anti-littering group takes tobacco cash

An anti-litter group is being bankrolled by a $300,000 donation from British American Tobacco.

Not-for-profit environmental organisation Keep New Zealand Beautiful has signed a three-year deal with the cigarette company and has received smaller payments since 2005.

A company official also sits on Keep New Zealand Beautiful's board as an industry representative, though the board chairman insists there are no strings attached.

In its latest social report, the multinational company says the money will help minimise the impact of pollution by cigarette butts, in line with its environmentally-focused business activities.

But anti-smoking groups have labelled the deal an attempt to legitimise the actions of a corporate monster whose products help kill 5000 New Zealanders each year.

"People who market cigarettes are not good community citizens," Cancer Society chief executive Dalton Kelly said. "But here they are trying to be a good citizen through the back door."

The society had written to Keep New Zealand Beautiful asking it to reconsider accepting big tobacco money.

The Life Education Trust, which offers health and education programmes to schools, ended a $150,000-a-year deal with British American Tobacco in 2006 after public pressure and criticism from then- education minister Trevor Mallard.

"We felt . . . that it was in the best interests not to take it anymore," trust chief executive Peter Cox said.

Keep New Zealand Beautiful's former chief executive Barry Lucinsky, who brokered the $300,000 deal, said the company was acting responsibly.

Mr Lucinsky said he sought clearance from then-environment minister Marian Hobbs and her officials.

Keep New Zealand Beautiful's chairman, former children's commissioner Roger McClay, said his group depended on money from unpopular sources.

British American Tobacco spokeswoman Susan Jones said the company gave about $500,000 to community groups each year.

"We're not doing this for publicity. We feel that it's a sensible thing for us to be supporting."