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Complaints about the billboard and newspaper ads by Tukituki MP Lawrence Yule claiming that he had secured millions of dollars worth of infrastructure project funding for Hawke’s Bay have been dismissed.
The Lawrence Yule billboard has received complaints. Source: rnz.co.nz
The Advertising Standards Authority received two complaints related to billboards spread around Hastings displaying a picture of Yule along with the words: “$ 500 million of new construction of Hawke’s Bay Hospital beginning in 2025.”
The Authority also investigated a complaint about a full-page newspaper ad 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.”
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.
It wasn’t the first time Yule had been in trouble this season.
In July, the Election Commission ruled that billboards promoting him as Tukituki’s voice were, in fact, candidate ads and should count toward his electoral spending limit.
Yule later attributed her mistake to receiving conflicting advice.
The Advertising Standards Authority evaluated recent complaints and said there was no reason to proceed.
The Authority has received 78 advertising complaints so far this election, of which nine have been confirmed or were being appealed.
