Air NZ brushes off body-paint complaints

BY LOIS WATSON

Last updated 07:35 12/07/2009

PAINTED VEIL: Air New Zealand boss Rob Fyfe is body-painted before appearing in the advertising campaign.

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Air New Zealand's decision to parade its staff in nothing but body paint has sparked calls for a cover-up.

While the airline's television advertisement showing airline ground staff and cabin crew servicing the aircraft and passengers in only painted-on uniforms has been a hit on YouTube, it is causing offence in some quarters.

New Zealand's advertising watchdog, the Advertising Standards Authority, has received a complaint about the advertisement from a viewer concerned that it was airing on TV at a time when children were watching with their parents.

"All genital areas were hidden but they left nothing to the imagination and [it] conjured pictures that none of us needed," the complainant said.

Others have also voiced their unease over the advert and Air New Zealand's decision to expand its use of body painted staff to the in-flight safety video being used on 737 domestic flights.

"The last thing I want to see when I fly is some fat Air NZ flight attendant's rear end," one disgruntled customer posted online. "I will be booking with Jetstar and Pacific Blue for all of my future domestic flying."

Another said: "Enough is enough, this is our national airline, not a strip joint! I for one won't bother booking with you again."

But Air New Zealand is defending its "Nothing to Hide" campaign, which it says is designed to highlight the transparency of the airline's all-inclusive domestic airfares with the message that what you see is what you get unlike competitor airlines who levy additional charges to check a bag or have a drink.

A spokeswoman for the airline said they had been overwhelmed by the positive responses to the campaign and were not aware of any negative feedback.

In considering the complaint about the "Nothing to Hide" advertisement, the Advertising Standards Authority said while painted bottoms were shown, the use of nudity was not gratuitous and had been employed in a "tasteful manner".

It ruled there had been no breach of the advertising codes as the advert was unlikely to cause widespread offence in the light of generally prevailing community standards.

* What do you think of the ad? Watch it, then post your comments below.

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- © Fairfax NZ News

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Waz #346 01:29 pm Jul 19 2009

Great piece of NZ humor, well done, the morons that do all the complaining obviously arent Kiwis & would be the first to complain about anything if infact they did fly Air NZ.Must be a releif that this misfits wont be joining you on a flite. Look forward to more good taste advertising

Ana Trenwith #345 02:42 pm Jul 16 2009

Hows about appreciating the talent that is required for such an ad!? Its a great example of the huge talent we have in New Zealand and a prime example of us kiwis doing it our way! I say go Air New Zealand!

Johanna #344 12:27 pm Jul 16 2009

Some people don't know art when they see it. I love the ad's and have been waiting to see the safety video, so thank you for adding it.

If you like what you see, you should go to the NZ Body Art Awards next Saturday (25th July). I went last year and was blown away by the talent and imagination of the artists. I believe the artist of the Air NZ campaign is a judge.

Hane Young #343 12:11 pm Jul 16 2009

Air NZL has class and style its a mordern day advertistment...its a great way of prompting to the world NZL talented artist and models not to mention the NZ bodyarts awards...Kiakaha Air NZ...and all the complaintents well...get out of the dark ages and come back down to EARTH....

Francois Dorleans #342 05:32 pm Jul 14 2009

Amazing ! Informative and Eye catching = excellent advert. NB: Legendary nude art from famous painters had nothing to shy about, just reminding us of an original sin or pleasure of our material life. Still this ad. looks refreshing and civilised to me. Maybe some had complained just to make the ad. get even more popular, well done it is getting even more famous!

sunshine #341 11:43 am Jul 14 2009

This is a very good ad it get's the message across in a very tasteful manner. Yet someone always has to kill the fun and i say good on Air New-Zealand for taking a stand where it count's i was flying on there just yesterday and they have the best flight service there is to offer when you are flying domsetically. So well-done Air NZ and keeps the awesome ad campgain going.

Aajetfox #340 11:10 am Jul 14 2009

I like your ad's and maybe might not show them onboard and on tele but maybye just online.

Di #339 03:14 pm Jul 13 2009

Well... it's the first time i've actually listened and taken notice on the usual boring safety spiel... go NZ

Mem #338 02:05 pm Jul 13 2009

Well I had actually stopped watching the safety instructiuons until the last time I flew. Very cool. People who see god's creation (the human) as rude and crude must be very sick in there minds.

JB #337 12:32 pm Jul 13 2009

Air NZ rocks... good on them for doing something to liven up an important yet usually painfully boring part of every flight. "All genital areas were hidden but they left nothing to the imagination and [it] conjured pictures that none of us needed" <-- is this sarcasim???

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