NZ church pleased over billboard ruling

More on the Billboard in New Zealand

A New Zealand church is hoping its Easter message will prove "interesting" to the public, but doesn't expect it to match its controversial Christmas billboard, which led to complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

The ASA backed Auckland's St Matthew-in-the-City, ruling that the Christmas billboard outside the Anglican church last December was not offensive.

The billboard, which attracted attentions overseas, showed a picture of Mary and Joseph in bed and carried the caption: "Poor Joseph. God was a hard act to follow".

It was vandalised several times and, after a woman attacked it with a knife, the church removed it out of concern for public safety.

Spokesman the Reverend Clay Nelson said the church was pleased but not surprised by the ASA decision.

"We feel our case was strong and they agreed," he said.

"We can move on now from Christmas and get ready for Easter."

Nelson said the Easter poster was still being worked on, but "a good billboard is a hard act to follow".

"We hope it will be interesting," he said.

More here-

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/nz-church-pleased-over-billboard-ruling-20100329-r7bg.html