Wellington  - An Israeli diplomat has accused New Zealand of "acceptance of anti-Semitic behaviour" following controversial billboard advertisements for a television programme, a newspaper reported on Friday.

"We have been shocked and dismayed by the wrongful action of people using Jewish stereotypes to pursue an advertising and commercial agenda," Dor Shapira, spokesman for Israel's embassy to New Zealand, told the Dominion Post.

Prime Television withdrew the billboards promoting a programme called Madmen: The Glory Years of Advertising, after Jewish community leaders complained about the words "Advertising Agency Seeks: Clients. All business considered, even from Jews."

The channel and its advertising agency apologized for causing offence, but Shapira said, "It is our hope that an apology will only be the start of an entire campaign to remove this repugnant and negative mindset from the culture and political environment in New Zealand."

He said the billboards, and publication of the advertisement in Time magazine, reflected "acceptance of anti-Semitic behaviour in New Zealand" and stressed Prime's apology should be backed by a strong response from politicians, academics, religious groups and the public. (dpa)