On 11^th July 2018, GoodSense MD Kath Dewar was interviewed by Wallace Chapman for Radio NZ’s The Panel on the marketing of junk food in Aotearoa.  The interview followed the conclusion of a three-year University of Auckland study that New Zealand’s high rates of obesity are “inevitable” given the unrelenting bombardment of advertising, fast food availability and unhealthy food in supermarkets in lower socio-economic areas.

In the interview, Kath talks about our GoodSense ethical marketing commitment and says it is no coincidence that low socio-economic areas are being to directly marketed to by fast food brands. She says industry practitioners need to behave more ethically and start making more responsible decisions in their careers and businesses.

In addition to challenging advertising and marketing managers’ decision making, GoodSense supports stronger regulatory controls of advertising to children, including promotion of health damaging food.

The study showed 8 unhealthy food ads played on TV during child peak viewing times (6-9pm) and an average of 9 ads for unhealthy foods within a square kilometre of a school.  A quarter of all promotions in supermarket flyers are for junk foods and drinks.

The targeting and placement of advertising and location of stores are the result of marketing and business decisions that prioritise corporate profit ahead of human wellbeing.  At GoodSense we only use marketing as a force for good.  We’re reinventing marketing to grow a healthier, fairer, zero-carbon NZ.

You can listen to the full interview here,  read the article on Stuff about obesity in New Zealand, or contact us to find out more about ethical marketing.

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Louise Compton, Practice Manager GoodSense