A Dunedin City Council radio advertisement has been taken off the air after "outraged" councillors objected to its anti-council overtones.
The advertisement was one of a 12-part series scripted and paid for by the council, depicting a family of four discussing various council services, facilities and events over dinner.
The Otago Daily Times learned yesterday several councillors had objected to the latest installment, which has been airing on Radio Dunedin and More FM - through MediaWorks - since before Queen's Birthday weekend.
The advertisement featured the family debating the forthcoming local body elections in October, and suggested anyone unhappy with the Forsyth Barr Stadium or inner-city parking should ensure they were enrolled to vote.
Its contents angered some councillors, with Cr Bill Acklin the first to voice concerns in an email to other councillors, the ODT has been told.
His concerns - mirrored by several other councillors - were later raised with Mayor Peter Chin, and this week prompted council chief executive Jim Harland to order the advertisement taken off the air early.
Mr Harland confirmed he had ordered the advertisement pulled, in response to councillors' concerns.
"The majority of councillors expressed an opinion with concerns about the ad."
He declined to discuss the content of the advertisement, saying only he "felt we could do better".
The advertisement's run had been due to finish in four days, and Mr Harland said he was still "ascertaining the facts" of who prepared it.
However, he did not anticipate taking action against the person responsible.
Cr Acklin declined to comment yesterday, but Mr Chin said some of the contents were "very unfortunate".
"I didn't think it was as positive as it could have been."
Several other councillors expressed views about the advertisement yesterday, with Cr Michael Guest saying he believed the advertisement was "extremely silly" and "comes across like it's anti the current council".
Cr Colin Weatherall said he "didn't think it was in particularly good taste at all".
Cr Guest said councillors were entitled to intervene.
"We have got an overall power to see that things that go [out] in the council's name are fair and balanced."
Mr Harland said it was "entirely appropriate" for councillors to raise concerns about pot-holes, rubbish collection "or, in this case, an advertisement which caused them some concern".
