ASA - Advertising Standards Authority

The following decisions have been released to the ASA website:

Complaint 20/425 Living Church of God, Tomorrows world, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 20/455 Brand Developers, iTread, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 20/497 Brand Developers, Safe and Healthy UV light, Television, Settled
Complaint 20/521 Instant Kiwi, Lotto NZ, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 20/523 Flora Proactive, Upfield, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 20/530 NZ National Party, Addressed Mail, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 20/531 NZ National Party, Facebook, Settled
Complaint 20/537 Brand Developers, Fish Harvester, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 20/538 Brand Developers, Transforma Ladder, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 20/543 The Incredible Journey Ministry, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 20/548 Energy Online, Television, Settled
Complaint 20/554 Greenhill Beverages, Topical Blaze Seltzer, Instagram, Settled
Complaint 20/438 ASB Bank, Television, Settled
Complaint 20/526 AA Insurance, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 20/528 Sleep and Wellness Clinic, Digital Marketing, Settled
Complaint 20/529 QueenBee Pure, Digital Marketing, Settled
Complaint 20/332 Resene, Out of Home, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 20/478 Bra and Things, Addressed Mail, Not Upheld
Complaint 20/540 Sakura Massage, Facebook, Settled
Complaint 20/547 DB Breweries, Monteith’s Wayfarer, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 20/552 Bayleys Real Estate, Brochure, Settled
Complaint 20/553 Chemist Warehouse, Print, Out of Home, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 20/525 AWAP 20/004 Burger King, Television and Digital Marketing, Not Upheld
Complaint 20/394 MVF Global, Digital Marketing, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 20/477 Asaleo Care, Television, Not Upheld
Complaint 20/485 Unilever Australasia, Dove, Television, Not Upheld
Complaint 20/518 NZCU Baywide, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 20/557 Vodafone New Zealand, Television, No Grounds to Proceed

Brand Developers UV Light ad removed following antibacterial claims

The Brand Developers television ad promoted the Safe & Healthy UV light, which claims to be proven to kill 99.9% of germs and bacteria on virtually any surface. The advertisement said, “Just wave the wand and germs are gone.” The ad depicted users waving the wand over a variety of surfaces including furniture, mail, phones, computers, disposable face masks and baby bottles.

The complainant was concerned the advertisement made unsubstantiated claims about the efficacy of UV light, and was irresponsible during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chair accepted the complaint to go before the Complaints Board. On receipt of the complaint, the Advertiser took self-regulatory action to remove the advertisement and agreed not to use it again in its current form. Following the Advertiser’s co-operative engagement with the process, the Chair said it would serve no further purpose to place the matter before the Board and ruled the complaint was Settled.

Greenhill Beverages Instagram ad removed

Two Instagam posts for Greenhill Beverages seltzer drink, Tropical Blaze, showed a soft-toy monkey holding a can of the drink which includes the product logo of a monkey.

The complainant was concerned the alcohol advertisement would appeal to minors.

The Chair accepted the complaint to be considered by the Complaints Board on whether the Code for the Advertising and Promotion of Alcohol had been breached. The Advertiser took self-regulatory action on receipt of the complaint and removed the advertisements, agreeing not to use them again in their current form. The Chair said it would serve no further purpose to place the matter before the Complaints Board and ruled the matter was settled.