Current News and Media Releases
New Decisions: Irrigation Advocacy, Lotto Treasure Hunts and More
A Lotto NZ television advertisement showed a young woman reflecting on her childhood and remembering her deceased mother. At her late mother’s request, the woman and her brothers dig up the old washing line in their backyard.
New Decisions: Anthropomorphic Mushrooms, Bread Billboards and More
A billboard advertisement showed photos of packaged mushrooms alongside the text “Fancy a Curvy Earthy Brunette? There’s a mushroom for everyone.” The Complainant said they found this advertisement offensive where it said “Fancy a curvy brunette?” as they believe this “degrades all women and places them in the lens of men and portrays them as objects and not humans”.
New Decisions: Electricity Promotions, Supermarket Recipes and More
Genesis Energy advertised a “Happy Winter” promotion on their website. The promotion offered people who switched to Genesis Energy up to $250 off their next power bill. It also offered fixed electricity prices, prompt payment discount and entry into the draw to win from a $50k prize pool.
New Decisions: Comparison Advertising, Dentists, Insurance and More
A website advertisement for the Mahindra XUV500 SUV showed an image of the Mahindra SUV, accompanied by text which describes different features of the vehicle. This was accompanied by a voiceover, part of which said ‘…The new age of Mahindra motoring brings the best value 7 seater SUV to the market…’
New Decisions: Window Insulation Lingo, Car Singalongs and More
A television advertisement for Spark New Zealand showed a man driving a car with a child beside him. They are singing and occasionally look briefly at each other. A complaint was made that the man driving and singing was not watching the road as he turned to face the child a number of times.
Changes recommended to further restrict advertising to children
The panel that reviewed the Advertising Standards Authority’s Children’s Codes has recommended an increased range of restrictions in its report to the ASA, released today. The panel, chaired by former Court of Appeal Judge, Hon. Sir Bruce Robertson, included senior representatives from the health sector and industry, along with the Deputy Chair of the Advertising Standards Complaints Board.
Raw Milk Advertising Rules Tightened
The Ministry of Primary Industries has recently tightened the rules around the manufacture and sale of raw milk in New Zealand. The aim of this is to help control the health risks associated with the consumption of raw milk (milk that has not been pasteurised). Pasteurisation is a process that that involves heating milk to… Read More
New Decisions: Nudity, Betting and More
A poster for The Body Shop product “Dead Sea Salt Scrub” was displayed in the window of twenty-eight branches of The Body Shop throughout New Zealand. The poster showed a naked young woman standing in the sea. Around the photo of the woman there are frangipani flowers, candles and a container of the sea salt scrub.
New Decisions: Advocacy, Animal Rights and More
The Complaints Board received six complaints about a Fluoride Free New Zealand television advertisement. The Complainants said the advertisement contained misleading information and played on fear to get its message across.
New Decisions: Vehicle Comparisons, Homeopathy and More
A complaint was made about a television advertisement for the Ssangyong Korando SUV. The Complainant said claims that the vehicle was “New Zealand’s best value mid-size SUV” were misleading. The Complaints Board ruled on 12 July 2016 that the complaint was Not Upheld. The Complainant appealed the Decision and it was placed before the Appeal Board for the matter to be reheard.
