ASA - Advertising Standards Authority

May 2022

Complaint 21/565 Lion NZ, Billboard, Not Upheld
Complaint 22/063 Toyota New Zealand, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 22/067 Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Unite against COVID19, Digital Marketing, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 22/069 Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Unite Against COVID-19, Radio, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 22/077 Counties Manukau District Health Board, Flyer, Settled
Complaint 22/080 Tiger Brokers, Twitter, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 22/082 Brand World Ltd, Boostrix, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 22/087 Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Unite Against COVID-19, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 22/088 Chorus NZ, Unaddressed Mail, Settled
Complaint 22/089 Arrotex Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd, BioSlim, TVNZ App, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 22/096 Trust Motors Limited, Digital Marketing, Settled
Complaint 22/105 Sera Lilly, Instagram, Settled
Complaint 22/106 Harcourts Cooper and Co Real Estate, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 22/109 Radiant Health, Radio, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 22/112 Wellington Free Ambulance, Radio, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 22/113 St John, Radio, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 22/115 Augustine, Facebook, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 22/116 Tamati Coffey MP, Facebook, Decline to Adjudicate
Complaint 22/119 Woolworths New Zealand, Countdown, Website, Not Upheld
Complaint 22/120 North Beach, Website and Facebook, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 22/121 Skinny Mobile, SMS message, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 22/122 Harvey Norman, Digital Marketing, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 22/123 Norish, Instagram, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 22/124 Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand, Television, No Grounds to Proceed
Complaint 22/127 Grins NZ, Instagram, Settled
Complaint 22/141 New Zealand Labour Party, Facebook, Decline to Adjudicate

Grins Instagram posts amended following complaint
A post on Grins NZ Instagram account has been removed voluntarily by the advertiser following a complaint.

The post showed six images related to consuming Grins while fishing. The caption on the post said: “Grins is proven to bring in a decent catch.”

The complaint was concerned the post was promoting unsafe behaviour by mixing alcohol, boating, and fishing.

As part of the ASA’s self-regulatory process, advertisers can voluntarily amend or remove an ad on receipt of a complaint, which is due to be heard by the Complaints Board. Grins decided to remove the post, and the Chair of the Complaints Board ruled the complaint as settled.

Unaddressed mail removed from circulation
Unaddressed mail from Chorus has been removed from circulation following a complaint it was not clear the letter was an ad.

The letter was delivered in an envelope addressed ‘To the Householder,’ and in handwritten font made emotive statements such as ‘I really miss you,’ while encouraging the reader to chose fibre broadband.

The complaint was concerned that it was not clear the letter was an ad and could mislead consumers who might not have knowledge of Chorus’ products. After receiving the letter, the complainant’s 88-year-old nana was so worried the letter was from someone with ill intentions that she locked up her house and considered calling the police.

As part of the ASA’s self-regulatory process, advertisers can voluntarily amend or remove an ad on receipt of a complaint, which is due to be heard by the Complaints Board. After receiving the complaint, Chorus confirmed it had removed the creative from circulation and would not use it again in its current form. The complaint was ruled as settled.