24 March 2016

Media Release

Tasman Investigates Wicked Campervan Ban

The Tasman District Council will look into the feasibility of banning Wicked campervans from Council campgrounds in response to the growing public concern at the company’s controversial slogans.

Tasman District Councillor Judene Edgar said staff had been asked to report back to the council’s Corporate Services Committee on the possibility of banning Wicked vans.

“Concern about the offensive nature of some of Wicked’s slogans isn’t new and there have been various attempts to convince the company to tone down its messages – including a petition of more than 100,000 signatures in 2014 – but so far nothing has managed to encourage Wicked to stop painting its vans with sexist and degrading slogans.

“It seems the only thing that might work is to hit the company in the pocket by encouraging people not to hire its vans. If campers can’t stay in the campgrounds they would like to because of the van they have chosen to rent, hopefully that will mean fewer people renting Wicked vans and parading their offensive slogans through our communities.”

Cr Edgar said the time seemed right to look into a ban on the back of the Kaiteriteri Beach Motor Camp’s decision to ban Wicked vans, DOC’s moves to try to prevent Wicked from issuing DOC campground passes, and Associate Tourism Minister Paula Bennett’s campaign against the company’s slogans.

“Given the level of community concern that is being generated by these campervans, it’s appropriate for us to consider what action, if any, we can take in support of the movement against Wicked’s slogans.”

Council staff will report back to the committee at its next meeting on 5 May.

ENDS

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