Politicians starring in NZTA ads a stuff-up, not a conspiracy

The selection of Labour and Green party politicians to appear in government advertising does not appear to have been based on overt political bias, a BusinessDesk investigation has found.

The local body politicians were simply invited to take part in the Waka Kotahi (NZTA) ads and BusinessDesk did not find any evidence the politicians themselves were involved in the decision-making.

According to everyone BusinessDesk spoke with, council officers chose the elected members and gave their recommendations to NZTA.

In the case of a “safer speed limits” ad featuring Hutt city mayor Barry Campbell, NZTA said the production company was Wellington-based and filmed the entire series close to home because it was “easy and cost-effective”.

Impartial choices

Councils have a duty to remain impartial but are often called upon to choose particular councillors to appear in official council publicity.

Two ads in NZTA’s series on the government’s “Streets for people initiative” featured councillors commenting on transitional cycle lanes in Wellington and Christchurch.

When Wellington city council (WCC) put out a press release announcing consultation on its Brooklyn cycle lane, it featured comments from councillors Sarah Free and Iona Pannett.

Free had held the cycling portfolio and Pannett chaired the planning and environment committee under which the initiative fell.

However, the NZTA ad featured Free and another councillor, Tamatha Paul, but not Pannett.

WCC acting chief executive Siobhan Procter told BusinessDesk it was approached by NZTA to provide comment on their experience of the transitional cycle lane that could be shared with other cities.

She said NZTA specifically sought the involvement of elected members of council.

“Deputy Mayor Free was approached to be involved in the video because she was heavily involved in the development of the Paneke Pōneke bike network plan in her previous role as the walking and cycling portfolio holder.

“Cr Paul was approached as she had moved the amendment at committee to adopt the transitional approach and is also deputy chair of the planning and environment committee.”

Christchurch city council’s (CCC) press release on the opening of a trial extension to the Ferry Rd cycleway had comments from councillors Jake McLellan and Mike Davidson, but the NZTA ad featured only McLellan.

The extension runs through McLellan’s ward and Davidson chairs the relevant council committee.

McLellan told BusinessDesk he was approached to appear in the video on the basis that he was available and Davidson wasn’t – a fact confirmed by Davidson.

“Perfectly good reason to go to Jake before me and I have no issue with it,” Davidson told BusinessDesk.

‘Cities are booming!’

As a public service agency, NZTA has a duty to remain politically neutral, the requirements for which are heightened during election periods.

In March, public service commissioner Peter Hughes ruled a 2020 ad by housing agency Kāinga Ora breached political neutrality because it featured Labour candidate Arena Williams.

The Barry ad ran in January and April as part of a series on safer speed limits and showed him in his mayoral chains saying, “Our towns and cities are booming! More development means more traffic.”

Other ads in the series featured an actor playing a construction worker explaining how some limits need to be reviewed because of “new schools, new builds, people moving in”, or because the roads were simply becoming too dangerous.

Seen to be neutral

The Living Streets ads featuring councillors ran as recently as Sept 2 but were pulled around Sept 5 after BusinessDesk began making enquiries.

A third ad in the series featured the redevelopment of Drews Ave, in Whanganui’s arts quarter, but didn’t feature any politicians.

NZTA blamed an “oversight” for continuing to run the ads during the local election period, which began on July 8.

It also said tags connecting the ads to the mayor’s and councillors’ Facebook pages were removed in June following questions in parliament from the National party.

In April, the NZ Taxpayers’ Union complained to NZTA chair Brian Roche about Barry and McLellan appearing in NZTA’s ads.

The group said there should have been a reasonable expectation the featured politicians would stand for re-election: “Both candidates have now confirmed their intentions to re-stand, yet the advertisements have not been unpublished.”

National party spokesperson Simeon Brown told BusinessDesk it was important the public service not only acted neutrally but was seen to be acting neutrally.

“Not only have we seen the amount of money spent on advertising balloon under Labour but we are seeing advertising being used to promote particular points of view, which is outside of the government’s advertising rules," he said.

“The Public Service Commission should investigate to ensure that all rules have been followed in these adverts.”

Commissioner Hughes is currently considering National’s complaint about the ads and wouldn’t comment.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport said its minister became aware of NZTA’s intention to highlight local projects around the time the advertisements began: “The fact the adverts were still running was brought to the attention of the office at the beginning of the week [Sept 5].

“The minister has made clear to Waka Kotahi that it is his expectation they will comply with all government advertising guidelines.”