Frequently Asked Questions

The ASA is the organisation that sets the standards for responsible advertising in New Zealand. The ASA also runs the advertising complaints processes. The ASA has 14 member organisations representing advertisers, agencies and the media.

The Advertising Codes set the standards for responsible advertising. They cover truthful presentation, and matters of social responsibility. There are specialist codes for advertising to Children and Young People and for categories including alcohol, financial advertising, gambling, therapeutic and health advertising.

No. The Advertising Standards Authority is an industry organisation. It is supported by advertisers, advertising agencies and media organisations to maintain standards in advertising. The Advertising Codes set out the rules that advertisements are to comply with to ensure they are responsible.

Self-regulation encourages the industry to take responsibility to ensure legal, decent, honest and truthful advertising communications to consumers. There are a number of incentives. Most advertisers do not want to deliberately mislead or offend current or potential customers. They understand the importance of responsible advertising of restricted products and engage with pre-vetting processes and code-compliance prior to the release / publication of advertising. If consumers trust advertising, it is more effective. Advertising self-regulation also works best alongside a legislative framework. There are over 50 pieces of legislation covering advertising content or placement in New Zealand.

The Advertising Standards Authority deals with complaints on all advertising in any media. The Broadcasting Standards Authority deals with complaints about programme content broadcast on radio or television, including programme promotions. The Media Council’s jurisdiction includes editorial content in magazines, newspapers, periodicals in circulation in New Zealand, including their websites, major broadcaster’s online news content and digital news content from Media Council member platforms. The Media Council also accepts complaints about classification of Video-on-Demand content from major providers in New Zealand.

The ASA’s definition of “advertising and advertisement” means any message, the content of which is controlled directly or indirectly by the advertiser, expressed in any language and communicated in any medium with the intent to influence the choice, opinion or behaviour of those to whom it is addressed.

This is a broad definition and it covers all advertisements placed in any media.

The ASA has a Codes Committee that develops the Codes. This committee is made up of advertiser, agency, media and public representatives and the Codes are approved by the ASA Governance Board. During the development or review of a Code, the committee may consult with relevant sectors, the general public and technical experts when required.

The Association of New Zealand Advertisers supports independent adjudicators to provide expert pre-vetting for certain advertising categories. It is a user-pays service. More information is available on the ANZA website.

Most ads are checked prior to being seen by consumers. The process to approve an advertisement differs between advertisers, product categories and media organisations. Many larger advertisers have detailed pre-vetting processes including regulatory checks and legal advice. Media organisations also have their own terms and conditions and guidelines on what they will and will not publish or broadcast. Some industry organisations also have advertising rules for their members to follow. Examples include, Medicines New Zealand, Self-Medication Industry, Pharmacy Guild, Cosmetics New Zealand, Medical Council of New Zealand and the International Code for Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in New Zealand.

The ASA is the organisation that sets the standards for responsible advertising in New Zealand. The ASA also runs the advertising complaints processes. The ASA has 14 member organisations representing advertisers, agencies and the media.

The Advertising Codes set the standards for responsible advertising. They cover truthful presentation, and matters of social responsibility. There are specialist codes for advertising to Children and Young People and for categories including alcohol, financial advertising, gambling, therapeutic and health advertising.

No. The Advertising Standards Authority is an industry organisation. It is supported by advertisers, advertising agencies and media organisations to maintain standards in advertising. The Advertising Codes set out the rules that advertisements are to comply with to ensure they are responsible.

Self-regulation encourages the industry to take responsibility to ensure legal, decent, honest and truthful advertising communications to consumers. There are a number of incentives. Most advertisers do not want to deliberately mislead or offend current or potential customers. They understand the importance of responsible advertising of restricted products and engage with pre-vetting processes and code-compliance prior to the release / publication of advertising. If consumers trust advertising, it is more effective. Advertising self-regulation also works best alongside a legislative framework. There are over 50 pieces of legislation covering advertising content or placement in New Zealand.

The Advertising Standards Authority deals with complaints on all advertising in any media. The Broadcasting Standards Authority deals with complaints about programme content broadcast on radio or television, including programme promotions. The Media Council’s jurisdiction includes editorial content in magazines, newspapers, periodicals in circulation in New Zealand, including their websites, major broadcaster’s online news content and digital news content from Media Council member platforms. The Media Council also accepts complaints about classification of Video-on-Demand content from major providers in New Zealand.

The ASA’s definition of “advertising and advertisement” means any message, the content of which is controlled directly or indirectly by the advertiser, expressed in any language and communicated in any medium with the intent to influence the choice, opinion or behaviour of those to whom it is addressed.

This is a broad definition and it covers all advertisements placed in any media.

The ASA has a Codes Committee that develops the Codes. This committee is made up of advertiser, agency, media and public representatives and the Codes are approved by the ASA Governance Board. During the development or review of a Code, the committee may consult with relevant sectors, the general public and technical experts when required.

The Association of New Zealand Advertisers supports independent adjudicators to provide expert pre-vetting for certain advertising categories. It is a user-pays service. More information is available on the ANZA website.

Most ads are checked prior to being seen by consumers. The process to approve an advertisement differs between advertisers, product categories and media organisations. Many larger advertisers have detailed pre-vetting processes including regulatory checks and legal advice. Media organisations also have their own terms and conditions and guidelines on what they will and will not publish or broadcast. Some industry organisations also have advertising rules for their members to follow. Examples include, Medicines New Zealand, Self-Medication Industry, Pharmacy Guild, Cosmetics New Zealand, Medical Council of New Zealand and the International Code for Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in New Zealand.

The ASA is the organisation that sets the standards for responsible advertising in New Zealand. The ASA also runs the advertising complaints processes. The ASA has 14 member organisations representing advertisers, agencies and the media.

The Advertising Codes set the standards for responsible advertising. They cover truthful presentation, and matters of social responsibility. There are specialist codes for advertising to Children and Young People and for categories including alcohol, financial advertising, gambling, therapeutic and health advertising.

No. The Advertising Standards Authority is an industry organisation. It is supported by advertisers, advertising agencies and media organisations to maintain standards in advertising. The Advertising Codes set out the rules that advertisements are to comply with to ensure they are responsible.

Self-regulation encourages the industry to take responsibility to ensure legal, decent, honest and truthful advertising communications to consumers. There are a number of incentives. Most advertisers do not want to deliberately mislead or offend current or potential customers. They understand the importance of responsible advertising of restricted products and engage with pre-vetting processes and code-compliance prior to the release / publication of advertising. If consumers trust advertising, it is more effective. Advertising self-regulation also works best alongside a legislative framework. There are over 50 pieces of legislation covering advertising content or placement in New Zealand.

The Advertising Standards Authority deals with complaints on all advertising in any media. The Broadcasting Standards Authority deals with complaints about programme content broadcast on radio or television, including programme promotions. The Media Council’s jurisdiction includes editorial content in magazines, newspapers, periodicals in circulation in New Zealand, including their websites, major broadcaster’s online news content and digital news content from Media Council member platforms. The Media Council also accepts complaints about classification of Video-on-Demand content from major providers in New Zealand.

The ASA’s definition of “advertising and advertisement” means any message, the content of which is controlled directly or indirectly by the advertiser, expressed in any language and communicated in any medium with the intent to influence the choice, opinion or behaviour of those to whom it is addressed.

This is a broad definition and it covers all advertisements placed in any media.

The ASA has a Codes Committee that develops the Codes. This committee is made up of advertiser, agency, media and public representatives and the Codes are approved by the ASA Governance Board. During the development or review of a Code, the committee may consult with relevant sectors, the general public and technical experts when required.

The Association of New Zealand Advertisers supports independent adjudicators to provide expert pre-vetting for certain advertising categories. It is a user-pays service. More information is available on the ANZA website.

Most ads are checked prior to being seen by consumers. The process to approve an advertisement differs between advertisers, product categories and media organisations. Many larger advertisers have detailed pre-vetting processes including regulatory checks and legal advice. Media organisations also have their own terms and conditions and guidelines on what they will and will not publish or broadcast. Some industry organisations also have advertising rules for their members to follow. Examples include, Medicines New Zealand, Self-Medication Industry, Pharmacy Guild, Cosmetics New Zealand, Medical Council of New Zealand and the International Code for Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in New Zealand.

The ASA is the organisation that sets the standards for responsible advertising in New Zealand. The ASA also runs the advertising complaints processes. The ASA has 14 member organisations representing advertisers, agencies and the media.

The Advertising Codes set the standards for responsible advertising. They cover truthful presentation, and matters of social responsibility. There are specialist codes for advertising to Children and Young People and for categories including alcohol, financial advertising, gambling, therapeutic and health advertising.

No. The Advertising Standards Authority is an industry organisation. It is supported by advertisers, advertising agencies and media organisations to maintain standards in advertising. The Advertising Codes set out the rules that advertisements are to comply with to ensure they are responsible.

Self-regulation encourages the industry to take responsibility to ensure legal, decent, honest and truthful advertising communications to consumers. There are a number of incentives. Most advertisers do not want to deliberately mislead or offend current or potential customers. They understand the importance of responsible advertising of restricted products and engage with pre-vetting processes and code-compliance prior to the release / publication of advertising. If consumers trust advertising, it is more effective. Advertising self-regulation also works best alongside a legislative framework. There are over 50 pieces of legislation covering advertising content or placement in New Zealand.

The Advertising Standards Authority deals with complaints on all advertising in any media. The Broadcasting Standards Authority deals with complaints about programme content broadcast on radio or television, including programme promotions. The Media Council’s jurisdiction includes editorial content in magazines, newspapers, periodicals in circulation in New Zealand, including their websites, major broadcaster’s online news content and digital news content from Media Council member platforms. The Media Council also accepts complaints about classification of Video-on-Demand content from major providers in New Zealand.

The ASA’s definition of “advertising and advertisement” means any message, the content of which is controlled directly or indirectly by the advertiser, expressed in any language and communicated in any medium with the intent to influence the choice, opinion or behaviour of those to whom it is addressed.

This is a broad definition and it covers all advertisements placed in any media.

The ASA has a Codes Committee that develops the Codes. This committee is made up of advertiser, agency, media and public representatives and the Codes are approved by the ASA Governance Board. During the development or review of a Code, the committee may consult with relevant sectors, the general public and technical experts when required.

The Association of New Zealand Advertisers supports independent adjudicators to provide expert pre-vetting for certain advertising categories. It is a user-pays service. More information is available on the ANZA website.

Most ads are checked prior to being seen by consumers. The process to approve an advertisement differs between advertisers, product categories and media organisations. Many larger advertisers have detailed pre-vetting processes including regulatory checks and legal advice. Media organisations also have their own terms and conditions and guidelines on what they will and will not publish or broadcast. Some industry organisations also have advertising rules for their members to follow. Examples include, Medicines New Zealand, Self-Medication Industry, Pharmacy Guild, Cosmetics New Zealand, Medical Council of New Zealand and the International Code for Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes in New Zealand.