Palmerston North Mayor Jono Naylor ordered the billboard outside the Erotica Lifestyles Expo held at the Palmerston North Convention Centre (23-25 April) to be removed after a complainant pointed out to him that the IMAGE on the billboard had previously been deemed “offensive and inappropriate for display on outdoor media, such as billboards” in a 2005 decision issued by the Advertising Standards Authority. The Mayor reported to us today that the billboard was removed some time on Sunday morning and organisers claimed that this was so that it would not be vandalised. See Decision 05/299 Click “Full Decision” link for text.:
http://www.asa.co.nz/display.php?ascb_number=05299
Steve Crow, organiser of Erotica Expo, is reported in the Manawatu Standard as having told a reporter the “billboard has been used in the past and it was not deemed obscene, so he [Jono Naylor] can complain all he likes because it’s perfectly legal.” (See www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/3619651/Pornographers-parade-goes-smoothly).
Mr Crow is correct in saying that that this particular billboard has never had a complaint against it, but a complaint was upheld against the same IMAGE on another billboard, so he’s fudging it… (being dishonest).
Manawatu Standard journalist Jonathon Howe has been supplied by the complainant with images of the 2005 billboard deemed offensive by the ASA (and link to image on Erotica’s website), and the one outside the Convention Centre at the weekend. The images are exactly the same.
Lying to the media isn’t smart (the media gets to look stupid for publishing the image).
One of Erotica Expo’s billboards from Nov 2007 also had a complaint upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority
http://www.asa.co.nz/display.php?ascb_number=07509 Click “Full Decision” link for text.
Since outdoor (billboard/poster) advertising for 2 out of 3 of the Expos in PN have been deemed offensive, and Crow lied and refused to remove his billboard when asked, we think there are grounds to request that the PNCC refuses to allow Mr Crow to have access to Council facilities (Convention Centre, Arena, etc.) in the future.
If you wish to express your support for this position please contact: Jono Naylor (Mayor) mayor@pncc.govt.nz (for other Councillors, see http://www.pncc.govt.nz/content/59569/Elected_Members_Contact_Details_2007_to_2010_term.pdf ), and David Walsh david.walsh@pncc.govt.nz.
A journalist has informed the complainant that Steve Crow threatened a guy with physical harm outside the Convention Centre. Crow is exploiting the legal loophole that allows advertising of pornography to children of any age.
Source of information
Porn Free Streets
www.pornfreestreets.com
NEW ZEALAND
I SO agree and APPLAUD Jono Naylor for the removal of the bill board, indecent, explicit, and alluring to the younger set…(and not so young). for goodness sake lets keep our town porn free as much as we can….