'Flamin dingoes' jibe angers Bay man

Peter Le Verne was offended by a text from Vodafone calling Australians 'flamin' dingoes'. Photo / George Novak

A text message sent by a cellphone carrier calling Australians "flamin' dingoes" has offended a Brookfield man who said he did not like his relatives being compared to dogs.

Peter Le Verne got an automated text message from Vodafone on Sunday afternoon encouraging its customers to make the most of unlimited calls to Australian numbers on Australia Day.

The full text read: "With your unlimited calling to standard Oz numbers, now's a good time to give those flamin' dingoes across the ditch a call & wish them a happy Australia Day".

Mr Le Verne said comparing his relatives who lived in Australia to dogs had offended him.

"I don't think anybody in their right mind would have thought it was okay to send a message like that."

He took his complaint to a Vodafone office yesterday but said he was told staff could not do anything about the message.

"Whoever sent it should get the sack."

Vodafone spokesman Brad Pogson said the text message Mr Le Verne received was part of its random acts of kindness campaign with the purpose of encouraging customers to make the most of their unlimited calls.

"We use colloquial language in our texts that we know resonates with many Kiwis. In this case, we're sorry to hear he was offended by the language used, that certainly wasn't our intention."