ASA - Advertising Standards Authority

The following decisions have been released to the ASA website:

Complaint 21/451 Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Unite Against COVID-19, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 21/453 Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Unite against COVID 19, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 21/480 Wella, Clairol, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 21/045 Godfreys, Digital Marketing, Settled
Complaint 21/486 Praesidium, Unaddressed Mail, Upheld
Complaint 21/503 Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Unite against COVID 19, Radio, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 21/373 Tab New Zealand, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 21/381 Orcon, Print and Website, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 21/493 NZ Post, Television, Not Upheld
Complaint 21/496 FUSO, New Zealand, Television, Not Upheld
Complaint 21/342 Canterbury District Health Board and West Coast District Health Board, Poster, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 21/418 Appeal 21/011 Department of Internal Affairs, Three Waters, Television, Appeal Declined
Complaint 21/434 Procter and Gamble Australia PTY Ltd, Vicks first Defence, Television, Not Upheld
Complaint 21/446 SmileDirect Club, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 21/475 Super Liquor, Digital Marketing, Not Upheld
Complaint 21/491 Clinicians Ltd, Women’s Intimacy Support, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 21/494 Universal Music, Lorde Album, Poster, Not Upheld
Complaint 21/504 Air New Zealand, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 21/287 Tui Products Ltd, Roundup Naturals, Television, Not Upheld
Complaint 21/348 SKY Television, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 21/406 Appeal 21/013 Auckland City Council, Western Springs Native Bush Restoration Project, Print, Not Upheld
Complaint 21/454 KiwiRail, Regional Freight Hub, Digital Marketing, No Jurisdiction
Complaint 21/464 Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Unite Against COVID-19, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 21/502 Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Unite Against COVID-19, Radio, Settled
Complaint 21/507 Brand Developers Ltd, TEBO Massage Chair, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 21/512 Turners, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 21/516 SmileDirectClub, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 21/518 SlimFit, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 21/519 Noel Leeming, Flyer, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 21/521 GPC Asia Pacific Limited, Repco, Television, No Grounds to Proceed

Therapeutic claims by advertiser ruled as misleading

The Complaints Board has upheld a complaint concerned with misleading therapeutic claims for Praesidium’s dietary supplement.

The one-page advertisement for Praesidium EMF Protector was in The Real News magazine and delivered to Christchurch letterboxes. The ad’s headline said: “EMF and 5G nutritional solution!” The text underneath read: “Do you want? Boundless ENERGY, mental CLARITY, DEEP Refreshing Sleep, STRONG Immune system, LONGER Life. You NEED Praesidium. Shields and Restores Healthy Cells from 5G Radiation and EMF’s, Radiotherapy, pesticides and Cleaners, Emotional Stress…”

The Complaints Board ruled the ad was misleading and not socially responsible. It upheld the complaint.

Complaint about Vicks First Defence nasal spray not upheld

The Complaints Board has not upheld a complaint about a TV ad for Vicks First Defence nasal spray.

The nasal spray was being promoted as defence against the common cold. The complaint was concerned the ad was irresponsible because it should have included a clear message about getting a Covid test.

The Complaints Board said the ad focused on the product helping to fight the common cold virus and was shown for only a short period of time during the Delta outbreak. It ruled the ad met the requirement for a high standard of social responsibility and it did not uphold the complaint.