Lawrence Yule: Billboards ‘don’t break’ the code

Tukituki Congressman Lawrence Yule says the ads claiming he has secured funding for millions of dollars in infrastructure for Hawke’s Bay “do not violate” the Advertising Standards Code.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) received two complaints related to billboards spread around Hastings that feature a picture of Yule alongside the words: “$ 500 million new construction of Hawke’s Bay Hospital beginning in 2025.”

The authority had also investigated a complaint about a full-page newspaper advertisement in which Yule said it had “achieved a record commitment of $ 800 million for infrastructure projects in the region.”

This included “$ 300 million security improvements to Napier-Taupō Road, Napier-Wairoa Road and Hawke’s Bay Expressway starting in 2021.”

Yule issued a statement Thursday saying that the ASA had confirmed that the advertising did not violate the code and, therefore, “the unsubstantiated complaints have been dismissed.”

“I am proud that National has committed $ 500 million to rebuild Hawke’s Bay Hospital and $ 300 million in security improvements to Napier-Taupō Road, Napier-Wairoa Road and Hawke’s Bay Expressway,” said Yule.

“This is the largest investment ever made in the Hawke’s Bay region and it shows how committed National is to serving our communities.”

A member of the public told RNZ that he had filed a complaint because the funding promises were announced by National Leader Judith Collins during a recent visit to Hawke’s Bay and would only take place if National won the election.

“I think the statement on billboards and advertisements is misleading and implies that the $ 500 million for a Hawke’s Bay Hospital is set in stone rather than an electoral promise.

“This is compounded as it follows the recent increase in government funding of $ 14.2 million to rebuild Hastings Hospital,” said the woman, who did not want to be named.

Yule disagreed, saying there was nothing wrong with the ads as it was obvious that the statements were just election promises.

“They are National Party billboards, National Party advertisements, with National Party logos … my logo on them … it is a commitment from the National Party and me to make this happen and we support it.”

Judith Collins said she hadn’t seen the ads, but agreed with her deputy.

“I can tell you that you have won the approval of the National Party and the commitment for us to do so,” Collins said.

In July, the Election Commission ruled that billboards promoting Yule as Tukituki’s voice were, in fact, candidate advertisements and should count toward their electoral spending limit.

Yule later attributed that mistake to receiving conflicting advice.

The Authority has received 78 advertising complaints so far this election, of which nine have been confirmed or were being appealed.