Kiwi Police force goes on recruitment drive in new campaign via M&C Saatchi New Zealand

Screen shot 2012-08-06 at 3.16.50 PM.jpgOn a wall near Auckland's Otara market M&C Saatchi New Zealand created a stencil depicting Constable Sanalio (Lio) Kaihau comforting a distressed woman. She saw demons urging her to commit suicide. Lio saw a way to help.

By talking of their shared beliefs and praying with her, Lio calmed her, reassured her and prevented her from acting on thoughts of suicide, an example of how empathy plays a critical role on the front line.

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11 Comments

Don't understand said:

What would you bother blatantly copying something like this?

Surely you wouldn't put this in your book?

Idea-void admen ripp off street art for NZ cops said:

How ironic - graffiti is illegal but it's ok to rip off Banksy's for the NZ Police?!?!

O dear said:

The Banksy rip-off is bad enough. But the pr copy to go with it is the icing on the shit.

Dennis hearfield said:

What a load of crap! Jesus I don't know how the agency or the so called creatives(?) involved can put their name to it. Whatever happened to original thought? Lazy bastards.

Wanksy said:

These comments are pretty lazy and unoriginal. This campaign is on its second phase, the Banksy etc comments are old hat. Think up something new, trolls.

James Bowman said:

As long as there have been cops, there have been people attacking or hassling them on walls; generally illegally. Over the last 20 years Blek le Rat, Banksy and many others have taken this to an artform. Stencil street art is a genre. Advertising draws on appropriate genres. We're helping the Police tell their exceptional stories on the streets they protect. In this case – as with many – a cop saved a life. Last year's street art campaign achieved a 277% increase in direct response. What have you done today?

Peter S said:

@james Bowman

That's not a genre, it's a direct style that is blatantly copied. What else have you done today besides plagiarise?

James Bowman said:

"Every time I think I've painted something slightly original, I find out that Blek Le Rat has done it as well, only twenty years earlier." Banksy,13 June 2008

Peter S said:

@James

If that makes you feel better, taking something out of context and using as an arument for copying. Glad you had it ready to make your rip off seem better.

Bottom line is show this to 10 people and 9 will say 'They copied Banksy'. It has nothing to do with other artists or the genre, because that's what they've/you've done.

And really, that's all that matters.

Banksy said:


This is shit. Why didn't they just have a bake sale and donate the proceed to a charity.

Dave King said:

Hey Dennis. Long time no hear. Hope you're well. Hi Peter. Let me know what's wrong again? We're not suggesting we're original artists trying to sell our stuff. We're using a style used by numerous street artists (Banksy is only one, perhaps the only one you know, people) to sell our message. If we we're flogging off art, then come get us. We're using a style that has been associated with shitting on the police to recruit police. Now take a cup of horlicks and calm down.

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