ASA - Advertising Standards Authority

January 2022

The following decisions have been released to the ASA website:Complaint 21/396 BurgerFuel, Player of the Day Award, Upheld in Part, Not Upheld in PartComplaint 21/511 New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union, Television, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/525 Living Waters Publications, Brochure, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/544 Williams Corporation Limited, Digital Marketing, SettledComplaint 21/386 Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Unite Against COVID-19, Television, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/501 Hobson’s Pledge Trust, Billboard, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/514 Clorox New Zealand Limited, Glad, Television, SettledComplaint 21/520 New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union, Twitter, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/522 PB Technologies Limited, PB Tech, Email, Digital Marketing, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/526 Radio New Zealand, Twitter, SettledComplaint 21/529 Groundswell NZ, Radio, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/530 Sony Pictures, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Television, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/536 Goodman Fielder NZL Limited, Meadow Fresh, Television, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/537 ANZ NZ Ltd, ANZ How, Television, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/538 Westpac Bank, Television, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/156 NZ Travel Adventure Media, Digital Marketing, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/289 Living Church of God, Tomorrow’s World, Television, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/435 30 Seconds Ltd, Television, Not UpheldComplaint 21/470 Wet & Forget, Television, Not UpheldComplaint 21/505 Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Unite Against COVID-19, Television, Not UpheldComplaint 21/506 Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Unite Against COVID-19, Television, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/510 Hamilton Electric Vehicles, Facebook, UpheldComplaint 21/523 Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Unite Against COVID-19, Radio, Not UpheldComplaint 21/524 Social Credit Party, Print, Upheld in PartComplaint 21/527 Sophie Store Limited, Email, Website, SettledComplaint 21/528 Qestral Corporation Limited, Burlington Lifestyle Village, Television, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/532 Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Unite Against COVID-19, Television, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/535 New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union, Television, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/545 Waka Kotahi/NZ Transport Agency, Road to Zero, Television, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/546 Ministry of Health, Unite Against COVID-19, Brochure, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/547 Department of the Prime Minister, Unite Against COVID-19, YouTube video, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/548 Ministry of Health, Website, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/549 Ministry of Health, Website, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/552 Waka Kotahi/NZ Transport Agency, Television, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/561 Fisherman’s Friend, Television, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/562 Waka Kotahi/NZ Transport Agency, Radio, No Grounds to ProceedComplaint 21/570 Mansons TCLM Ltd, Radio, No Grounds to Proceed

Vaccine in pregnancy ad not upheldA complaint about a Government advertisement advocating for the COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy has not been upheld.The TV ad shows a woman sitting at a table explaining how she decided the vaccine was the best thing for her and her baby. Three complainants were concerned it was misleading to say the vaccine was safe in the ad, as there was insufficient research or experience available.The ASA Complaints Board said sufficient substantiation had been provided by the Government for the implied claim made, that on-balance deciding to get vaccinated was the better option for the health of the woman and her child who featured in the ad.The Board ruled to not uphold the complaint.Environmental claim amended by advertiserAn advertisement for Glad to be Green bin liners has been amended following a complaint the ad was making misleading environmental claims.In the TV ad, the voiceover states the product “stops the equivalent of two two litre plastic bottles entering the ocean”.While the advertiser, Clorox, stood by its claims in the TVC, it decided to voluntarily amend the claim to avoid potential misinterpretation. The wording was changed to say it helps stop the equivalent of 2 x 2 litre plastic bottles from entering the ocean.As part of the ASA’s self-regulatory process, advertisers have the option of amending or removing their advertisement to comply with the Advertising Codes before the complaint goes to the Complaints Board. The Chair ruled the matter as settled.