The advertising watchdog has settled complaints about billboards that accused Labour leader Chris Hipkins and the Green co-leaders of “backing the gangs”, after it was confirmed the ads were removed.
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received five complaints about the Sensible Sentencing Trust billboards, which were displayed on some JCDecaux sites.
They showed Hipkins and Green co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick alongside the words “BACKING THE GANGS” and the Greens’ slogan “for all of us”.
In a decision dated Friday, the ASA’s complaints board chairperson said the trust and the media owner had confirmed the advertisement "had been removed and would not be used again". The decision does not say when the billboards came down.
The chairperson had accepted the complaint to go before the full complaints board, which would have considered whether the Advertising Standards Code had been breached. Advertisers can amend or remove an ad once a complaint is made.
“Given the advertiser and the media engaged with the process by removing the advertisement, the chair ruled the complaints were settled,” the decision said.
Annabelle Lee-Mather and Brigitte Morten speak to Breakfast about the political week that was. (Source: Breakfast)
Because the matter was settled, the watchdog ultimately made no finding on whether the billboards breached the code.
One complaint came on behalf of the Green Party. It said the billboards had been seen on JCDecaux sites around Stanley St and Manukau Rd in Auckland on October 24 and 25.
The party said the billboards used official photos that also appear in its own election advertising, along with “the exact font, and extremely similar layout of text and slogan”.
“The use of these specific Green Party photographs lends weight that the billboards might be considered party advertising created by the Green Party,” the complaint said.
The party said in its complaint that the Sensible Sentencing Trust's promoter statement may meet the Electoral Act size rules, but it was “hard for consumers to read and to understand this is not material authorised by the Green Party”.
Party leaders continue to defend their candidates but criticism continues. (Source: 1News)
“The overall impact is that the advertisements suggest the statement on the billboards ‘backing the gangs’ are a reflection of the Green Party’s policy position, even though this is not a Green Party position,” the complaint said.
The party asked the ASA to deal with the complaint with “the utmost urgency”, saying advance voting had opened. Four other complaints were also received.
“Their display during the final weeks of the election campaign has a particular impact as they are designed to sway consumers who are going to vote,” the Greens said.
The ASA decision does not include a response from the trust, but last week its national spokesperson Louise Parsons told RNZ that the group stood by the advertisement.
New footage from the event was shared online. (Source: 1News)
“The only issue that the Greens have is that we’ve used their images, so we’ll change that. But other than that, we’ve actually complied with the standards.”
Parsons described the billboard as, “if you like, satire”.
“They’re the ones that started this. They’re the ones that put images of themselves out with the gangs,” she said.
"Are they backing away from that now? Are they saying that they don't back the gangs? Because the way we see it, and the reason we've responded is from their actions."
SHARE ME