Animation slammed as 'degrading' to Bay

Napier City councillors have slammed an animated regional marketing campaign and described it as "embarrassing" and "degrading".
The comments were made at Wednesday's council meeting - five days out from the launch of the second part of the campaign titled "Hawke's Bay - Everything Under the Sun".
The first phase featuring animated characters started last November and targeted families over the four-week school holiday period.
Councillor Mark Herbert described the "peanut-like" animation as "awful" and "embarrassing", while Councillor Bill Dalton said it was "degrading".
"I found it embarrassing for the city to be represented by whatever this thing was," he said.
Councillor Tony Jeffery said while the campaign had targeted families as intended, it was time to move away from the animated advertising.
"It was okay for the kids, but I just wouldn't like that to continue as a theme," he said.
A total of 167 advertisements were screened on TV to promote the revamped Venture Hawke's Bay website. The website offered viewers information on accommodation, events and activities in the Bay. The website and commercials also directed people to online auctions where they could bid on Hawke's Bay holiday packages.
Results indicated 78 per cent of children in the lower North Island had seen the commercial at least once, with 61 per cent viewing it more than three times.
The website attracted 2297 clicks - 24 per cent higher than the estimated total. Another 171 people became a "fan" of the campaign on social networking site Facebook, while the commercial was viewed more than 1000 times on YouTube.
 Councillor Tania Wright said council should wait for the full results of the campaign before making any decision on its effectiveness.
Her view was supported by councillors Cocking, Lutter and Pipe, who added that advertising was subjective.
Venture Hawke's Bay regional promotional and marketing manager Michael Wan said the goal of the campaign had been to increase visitors to the region.
"We showed an increase in domestic visitors to Hawke's Bay in January and I think the campaign had an influence."
While a small minority had complained about the campaign, Mr Wan said it also received positive feedback.
Details on the second phase of the campaign were being kept under wraps until next week's nationwide launch, but Mr Wan was hopeful it would attract visitors to the region over autumn when numbers typically dropped.
"I am confident it will go some way towards the effect we are looking for. The programme we've got will make a difference."