The "Rules of a fuck buddy" campaign is offensive - who at the WCC approved the billboard placement around Wellington?

S. Paurini made this Official Information request to Wellington City Council

The request was partially successful.

From: S. Paurini

Dear Wellington City Council,

I wrote to Cr Malcolm Sparrow, Mayor Justin Lester and CE Kevin Lavery on 22 July. 2019. As of today's date 14 Sept. 2019, I have not received an acknowledgement of my letter.

A council call centre worker confirmed that Cr Malcolm Sparrow is in charge of the council regulations committee. According to the call centre worker, part of the role of that committee includes making decisions about where advertising can be placed in the city. In raising this matter, I am assuming this information is accurate.

The New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF) displays sexually suggestive billboards around Wellington city, in full public view.

The campaign is called "Rules of a fuck buddy" with the word 'fuck' smudged out on the billboard (although one can tell the word is 'fuck').

Who are the members of the council regulations committee that approved this marketing campaign, and what is their rationale for doing so?

Yours faithfully,

Seann Paurini

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S. Paurini left an annotation ()

Note 1: My concern is that everyday families, younger children, senior citizens, toddlers and conservative citizens will be exposed to the advertising.

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From: BUS: Assurance
Wellington City Council

Dear Seann

Thank you for your email dated 14 September 2019 requesting information about billboard placement.

Our team will manage your request under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 which requires us to respond as soon as possible, but no later than 11 October 2019.

The reference number for your request is IRO-9066.

Please contact us if you have any further questions.

Kind regards

Jessica Hall
Assurance Services Coordinator  | Wellington City Council
| W Wellington.govt.nz | |

The information contained in this email is privileged and confidential and intended for the addressee only.
If you are not the intended recipient, you are asked to respect that confidentiality and not disclose, copy or make use of its contents.
If received in error you are asked to destroy this email and contact the sender immediately. Your assistance is appreciated.

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From: Ian Hunter
Wellington City Council

Dear Mr Paurini,

 

Thank you for your email to the Council received on 6 September 2019 in
which you requested information in respect of the ‘Rules of a fuck buddy’
billboard campaign.

 

Whilst the Council may consider the location of advertising within the
city, the Council is not involved in the content of the advertising.

 

As such, the Regulatory Processes Committee has had no involvement in, or
approval of, the campaign. The role of the Regulatory Processes Committee
can be viewed on the Council’s website via the following link:

 

[1]https://wellington.govt.nz/~/media/your-...

 

Complaints in respect of billboard campaigns would need to be referred to
the Advertising Standards Authority who can be contacted via the following
link: [2]https://www.asa.co.nz/

 

With respect to the New Zealand AIDS Foundation campaigns, previous ASA
rulings can be accessed via the following links:

 

[3]https://www.asa.co.nz//backend/documents...

 

[4]https://www.asa.co.nz//backend/documents...

 

[5]https://www.asa.co.nz//backend/documents...

 

Should you require any further information please feel free to contact me.

 

Kind regards,

Ian

 

Ian Hunter
Assurance Advisor | Complaints and Information Assurance | Governance and
Assurance Directorate | Wellington City Council
P 04 803 8315 | M 021 227 8315 |
E [6][email address] | W [7]Wellington.govt.nz | [8]Facebook|
[9]Twitter

 

From: S. Paurini
[[10]mailto:[FOI #11219 email]]

Sent: Saturday, September 14, 2019 3:52 PM

To: BUS: Assurance

Subject: [SPAM:] Official Information request - The "Rules of a fuck
buddy" campaign is offensive - who at the WCC approved the billboard
placement around Wellington?

 

Dear Wellington City Council,

 

I wrote to Cr Malcolm Sparrow, Mayor Justin Lester and CE Kevin Lavery on
22 July. 2019. As of today's date 14 Sept. 2019, I have not received an
acknowledgement of my letter.

 

A council call centre worker confirmed that Cr Malcolm Sparrow is in
charge of the council regulations committee. According to the call centre
worker, part of the role of that committee includes making decisions about
where advertising can be placed in the city. In raising this matter, I am
assuming this information is accurate.

 

The New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF) displays sexually suggestive
billboards around Wellington city, in full public view.

 

The campaign is called "Rules of a fuck buddy" with the word 'fuck'
smudged out on the billboard (although one can tell the word is 'fuck').

 

Who are the members of the council regulations committee that approved
this marketing campaign, and what is their rationale for doing so?

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Seann Paurini

 

References

Visible links
1. https://wellington.govt.nz/~/media/your-...
2. https://www.asa.co.nz/
3. https://www.asa.co.nz/backend/documents/...
4. https://www.asa.co.nz/backend/documents/...
5. https://www.asa.co.nz/backend/documents/...
6. mailto:[email address]
7. http://wellington.govt.nz/
8. https://www.facebook.com/wellingtoncityc...
9. http://twitter.com/wgtncc
10. mailto:[FOI #11219 email]

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