The Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that a National Party ad on petrol prices was mischievous, but not misleading. It was one of three complaints published yesterday that were not upheld.
The Complaints Board ruled that National's social media ads are "advocacy advertising" and therefore robust expression of opinion is allowed.
The fuel prices ad compared average prices under National between 2008 and 2017, to under Labour on 29 November 2019.
It also included a bar graph that was not to scale but the majority of the board agreed that the data displayed was correct and sourced, and this saved the hyperbolic graphic from being misleading.
Political Reporter Yvette McCullough spoke to one of the complainants, Dylan Reeve, who told her he is disappointed with the ruling.
A spokesperson for National says the party was always confident its Facebook posts were not misleading, so they welcome these decisions.
They say National is simply doing what a good Opposition does, holding the Government to account for its failures.
