Did the Royal Easter Show Break the law?

Probably not - John Drinnan writes in today's Business Herald, perhaps tongue-in-cheek, that the promoters of the Royal Easter Show in Auckland might have broken the law in promoting the annual event:

Depictions of the Queen are subject to rules under the Flag Emblems and Protection of Names Act. The cartoon monarch in the ad invites people, saying "I can't be there but my cows will be" in a reference to a herd of Waikato cows HRH [sic] owns.

The Act itself is aimed at preventing businesses from claiming "Royal patronage" (a feudal concept based on granting monopoly to individual products and businesses). The Royal Easter Show has had Royal patronage since 1987, so there's no problem there.

However, if I were a monarchist, I'd be a bit worried about this casual depiction of the Queen. As Drinnan notes, the cartoon of the Queen signals a more "easygoing" approach to the Queen's image. I would say the image actually mocks the Queen, with all of the adverts making fun of her accent. Unlike years past, when being a "Royal" show would've been a draw card in itself, the shows organisers are now using the Royal link in a humorous, self-depricating and ironic way.