Orange Guy

Orange Guy (Māori: Tangata Karaka)[1] 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[2] and was described by Newshub as 'iconic'.[3] He features in advertising on TV, radio, newspapers, social media, outdoors, and previously on 'I voted' stickers.[4] Orange Guy has fingerless hands, chunky feet, square eyes,[2] and a dog named Pup.

Orange Guy
Orange Guy as depicted in a 2011 Facebook post
First appearance2009
Created byElectoral Commission

History

Orange Guy was introduced by New Zealand's Electoral Commission in 2009.[2] He changed into a dress shape in 2011 to celebrate Suffrage Day. The shape was made out of his flesh rather than clothes, which was described by Gabi Lardies for The Spinoff as "absolutely cursed".[2] In 2020, Orange Guy was given a new companion, a dog named Pup.[2] The Electoral Commission said that the dog cost about $13,000, and was modelled after a Jack Russell and a Dachshund.[2][5]

David Correos voiced Orange Guy in the 2017 and 2020 general elections, as well as the 2019 local elections.[5] It had previously been voiced by John Leigh.[6] 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".[7][8]

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.[9]

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.[10][11] However, In the 2023 New Zealand general election they were discontinued. This 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".[3] 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.[11] 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.[3]

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."[4]

References
  1. "Ka puta ngā mōkī ki nga kaipōti 3.15 miriona". Elections.
  2. Lardies, Gabi (11 October 2023). "Shop the fit: Orange Guy". The Spinoff. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  3. "Election 2023: Electoral Commission confirms iconic election merch no longer available in New Zealand". Newshub. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  4. Thompson, Anna (31 August 2017). "Orange guy branding for general election campaign outdated, students say". Stuff. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  5. "How much for that doggy? Electoral Commission reveals the price of Pup and their 2020 brand makeover". 1 News. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  6. "Matt Heath: Orange Election Guy freaks me out". The New Zealand Herald. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  7. "Jemaine Clement defends NZ's 'Orange Guy'". The New Zealand Herald. 14 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  8. "Jemaine Clement shuts down US comedian's attack on NZ's Orange Guy". Newshub. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  9. Woolf, Amber-Leigh (21 September 2016). "Trademarked 'Orange Guy' removed from candidate's Facebook page". Stuff. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  10. "Covid-19: No 'I voted' stickers this election because of coronavirus". Stuff. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  11. Waiwiri-Smith, Lyric (4 October 2023). "Electoral Commission gets rid of 'I voted' stickers, fans fight back with a sexed up Orange Guy". Stuff. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
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