8 Dec 2020

Marketing expert on Safety Warehouse money stunt

From Morning Report, 7:44 am on 8 December 2020

The fake money drop over the weekend which turned in to a riot is now in the hands of the Commerce Commission.

The Safety Warehouse, which sells protective wear, advertised that $100,000 in cash would be given away in a "live cash giveaway" with money "flying from the sky" - but dropped fake money vouchers instead.

Now, the Commerce Commission is reviewing four complaints about the event, which may have breached the Fair Trading Act.

The Reserve Bank has also stepped in - it's illegal to publish anything resembling a genuine banknote. At least one participant from the event is taking his concerns to the Police.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was asked about the event yesterday, and she's not impressed.

Marketing Professor at University of Auckland Dr Bodo Lang says the money drop is a bizarre story.

Dr Lang speaks to Susie Ferguson.