Safe-sex campaign launched on back of 'abstain' fiasco

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A campaign urging people to use condoms has been launched off the back of the scrapped "Abstain for the Game" advertising.

The Auckland District Health Board yesterday released its "Play Fair, Play Safe" plan to promote safe and consensual sex during the Rugby World Cup.

The campaign uses rugby imagery to send out a message about sexual health to World Cup patrons.

ADHB spokesman Matt Rogers said the campaign was released to take full advantage of the controversy around Abstain for the Game.

"They were about to do something on it because we normally bring out campaigns to promote sexual health before big events, but we brought it forward because of all of the talk around Telecom's campaign," Mr Rogers told the Herald.

The board's Auckland Sexual Health Service's Nick Laing said telling people to abstain from sex to promote good sexual health was unrealistic.

"This campaign is acknowledging the realities of a major event like the World Cup where there is a large influx of people partying and celebrating," he said.

The campaign will see posters and condom wallets distributed throughout the World Cup encouraging consensual and safer sex practices.