Orange Guy
{{Short description|New Zealand character used to encourage election voting}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox character
| image = OrangeGuy point.jpg
| caption = Orange Guy as depicted in a 2011 Facebook post
| first = 2009
| creator = Electoral Commission
}}
Orange Guy ({{Langx|mi|Tangata Karaka}}){{Cite web|url=https://www.elections.nz/media-and-news/2017/ka-puta-nga-moki-ki-nga-kaipoti-3-15-miriona/|title=Ka puta ngā mōkī ki nga kaipōti 3.15 miriona|website=Elections}} is a mascot of the New Zealand Electoral Commission which is used to encourage people to vote in elections. The character was introduced in 2009{{Cite news |last=Lardies |first=Gabi |date=11 October 2023 |title=Shop the fit: Orange Guy |url= https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/11-10-2023/shop-the-fit-orange-guy |access-date=14 October 2023 |work=The Spinoff |language=en}} and was described by Newshub as 'iconic'. He features in advertising on TV, radio, newspapers, social media, outdoors, and previously on 'I voted' stickers.{{Cite news |last=Thompson |first=Anna |date=31 August 2017 |title=Orange guy branding for general election campaign outdated, students say |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/96352854/orange-guy-branding-for-general-election-campaign-outdated-students-say |access-date=14 October 2023 |website=Stuff |language=en}} Orange Guy has fingerless hands, chunky feet, square eyes, and a dog named Pup.
History
Orange Guy was introduced by the New Zealand Electoral Commission in 2009. He changed into a dress shape in 2011 to celebrate Suffrage Day; the dress was made out of his flesh rather than clothes, which was described by Gabi Lardies of The Spinoff as "absolutely cursed". In 2020, Orange Guy was given a new companion, a dog named Pup. The Electoral Commission said that the dog cost about $13,000, and was modelled after a Jack Russell and a Dachshund.{{Cite news |title=How much for that doggy? Electoral Commission reveals the price of Pup and their 2020 brand makeover |url= https://www.1news.co.nz/2020/07/06/how-much-for-that-doggy-electoral-commission-reveals-the-price-of-pup-and-their-2020-brand-makeover/ |access-date=14 October 2023 |work=1 News |language=en}}
David Correos voiced Orange Guy in the 2017 and 2020 general elections, as well as the 2019 local elections. He had previously been voiced by John Leigh.{{Cite news |date=14 October 2023 |title=Matt Heath: Orange Election Guy freaks me out |url= https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/matt-heath-forget-it-orange-election-guy-freaks-me-out/ASDJ7QMDTQ2I3XQKFS5GMGZMJ4/ |access-date=14 October 2023 |work=The New Zealand Herald}} In 2017, American comedian Paul F. Tompkins described Orange Guy on Twitter as "a weird citrus golem of a voting mascot", which prompted Jemaine Clement to reply with "You have a weird citrus golem as a president".{{Cite news |date=14 October 2023 |title=Jemaine Clement defends NZ's 'Orange Guy' |url= https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/jemaine-clement-stands-up-for-nz-orange-voting-mascot-in-twitter-spat/DBQ3WZNJ5JIUUR3SRXPL45B4XY/ |access-date=14 October 2023 |work=The New Zealand Herald}}{{Cite news |title=Jemaine Clement shuts down US comedian's attack on NZ's Orange Guy |language=en |work=Newshub |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2017/09/jemaine-clement-shuts-down-us-comedian-s-attack-on-nz-s-orange-guy.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925021405/http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2017/09/jemaine-clement-shuts-down-us-comedian-s-attack-on-nz-s-orange-guy.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 September 2017 |access-date=14 October 2023}}
In 2016, an Invercargill City Council candidate was asked by the Electoral Commission to remove Orange Guy from her Facebook page after she had added it. Orange Guy is trademarked by the Electoral Commission.{{Cite news |last=Woolf |first=Amber-Leigh |date=21 September 2016 |title=Trademarked 'Orange Guy' removed from candidate's Facebook page |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/84490244/trademarked-orange-guy-removed-from-candidates-facebook-page |access-date=14 October 2023 |work=Stuff |language=en}}
During the 2020 New Zealand general election, stickers saying "I voted" with Orange Guy were not given out after voting due to fears of spreading COVID-19.{{Cite news |date=6 October 2020 |title=Covid-19: No 'I voted' stickers this election because of coronavirus |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/123004140/covid19-no-i-voted-stickers-this-election-because-of-coronavirus |access-date=14 October 2023 |work=Stuff |language=en}} However, In the 2023 New Zealand general election they were discontinued. The discontinuation announcement was made by the Electoral Commission as a reply to a question on Twitter. Newshub described the merchandise as 'iconic' and that "the public has been left disappointed by the stickers' shock absence". The Electoral Commission said that they were discontinued because not enough people wanted the stickers after voting. Voters were instead given the option to use GIFs in place of the physical stickers.{{Cite news |last=Waiwiri-Smith |first=Lyric |date=4 October 2023 |title=Electoral Commission gets rid of 'I voted' stickers, fans fight back with a sexed up Orange Guy |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/300982967/electoral-commission-gets-rid-of-i-voted-stickers-fans-fight-back-with-a-sexed-up-orange-guy |access-date=14 October 2023 |work=Stuff |language=en}} Some overseas voters got spare stickers with old branding from previous elections. These included former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern who voted in New York and posted her stickers on social media.{{Cite news |title=Election 2023: Electoral Commission confirms iconic election merch no longer available in New Zealand |language=en |work=Newshub |url= https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/10/election-2023-electoral-commission-confirms-iconic-election-merch-no-longer-available-in-new-zealand.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231014062129/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/10/election-2023-electoral-commission-confirms-iconic-election-merch-no-longer-available-in-new-zealand.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 14 October 2023 |access-date=14 October 2023}}
Criticism of the character
In 2017, communication design senior lecturer Karol Wilczynska of Auckland University of Technology said that "It needs to not be fake, which is what Orange Guy is. It is a non-person and that does not work. The Orange Guy, as you call it, is a generic animated image that has no real connection to the population."
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://youtube.com/watch?v=HwrW-ijpDOk Orange Guy 2020 general election advertisement]
- [https://youtube.com/watch?v=9enzBNvwC9o Orange Guy horror film produced for RNZ]
Category:Elections in New Zealand