Wicked Campers under fire again

Wicked Campers are under fire again by advertising watchdogs. Photo / Supplied

Rental company Wicked Campers has again fallen foul of the advertising watchdog with offensive slogans painted on its vans.

Among the phrases deemed degrading and unacceptable by the Advertising Standards Authority was the statement: "I've often wanted to drown my troubles, but I can't get my wife to go swimming."

The Authority upheld three complaints against the company, and again criticised its failure to offer any response to these and numerous previous complaints.

The complainant who objected to the slogan about drowning said it was degrading to women and insensitive to rape and domestic violence victims.

The authority agreed it was deliberately provocative and likely to cause serious or widespread offence.

The same phrase was criticised last month by Northland mum Karen Edwards, whose 21-year-old daughter Ashlee was murdered by her former partner, who deliberately drowned her.

Jimmy Akuhata admitted throwing Ashlee off a Whangarei bridge in 2012 and holding her head under water until she stopped struggling.

Ms Edwards told the Northern Advocate the public needed to make a stand and show the messages weren't okay.

The company caused further outrage with its response, which said it had employed "a team of highly intelligent, socially conscious super monkeys to closely monitor the subject matter featured on our vehicles and scream loudly when offended".

Another complaints upheld by the Authority related to a statement which read: "If you woke up with a sore ass and $100 in your pocket would you tell anyone?"

The third related to a van painted with images of cartoon breasts and the phrase: "Random Breast Testing."

All three complaints were upheld.