Veterans' Affairs Minister Judith Collins has criticised a group for what she says is a lack of respect for war veterans and trying to profit off the RSA's red poppy appeal.
Peace Movement Aotearoa is running a white poppy fundraiser from 17 to 24 April, overlapping with the annual red poppy day street appeal on Friday.
Ms Collins says the Peace Movement Aotearoa group has other days in the year it could hold its white poppy appeal.
The minister says the group is clearly pulling a stunt to trade off poppy day, which is appalling when the money raised on poppy day goes to a welfare fund for veterans.
Ms Collins says her message to Peace Movement Aotearoa is to find another week to hold their appeal.
Peace Movement Aotearoa coordinator Edwina Hughes says the group is not trying to piggyback off of the red poppy appeal.
Ms Hughes says the white poppy appeal dates were moved closer to Anzac Day as there is demand for the white poppy at this time and there is no competition intended with the red poppy appeal.
