Angry crowds attacked the organisers' car after a company advertised a $100,000 "cash drop" and dropped fake money instead. Photo / Supplied
Angry crowds attacked the organisers' car after a company advertised a $100,000 "cash drop" and dropped fake money instead. Photo / Supplied
An Auckland crowd turned angry after a safety equipment company advertised a $100,000 "cash drop" that included a "fake money" giveaway.
The Safety Warehouse, an online supplier of personal protective equipment, advertised on social media that it planned to give away "actual money" at Aotea Square from midday on Saturday.
"We are the people's company & proud of it, so we're dropping $105,891.40 in value from the sky in Aotea Square at 12pm on Saturday the 5th. Yes, ACTUAL MONEY will be flying from the sky," it said.
The Safety Warehouse advertised a #100,000 "cash drop" in Aotea Square. Photo / Website
People who attended the event have posted video of the crowd chasing after the company's car in anger after what they said was fake money" being dropped instead.
"The crowd started attacking the organisers' vehicle as it was trying to leave the venue.. i even saw a jandal and a safety boot in full flight ... the crowd smashed the rear window," one person posted.
But the director of GreenBack Capital, which owns the Safety Warehouse brand, Andrew Thorn, said the company did give away $100,000 in actual cash as well as "fake cash" that offered discounts on the company's products such as hand sanitiser and face masks.
"It was $100,000 in real money, and the fake money discounts on top - I think that was $40,000 [fake money] notes that were printed," he said.
Thorn said some of his staff were bruised when the crowd turned angry, and one man who was in the back seat of the car was taken to hospital after an object thrown through the back window scattered glass into his eyes. He did not yet know whether the injury to the man's eyes was serious.
Thorn said he started the Safety Warehouse business before Covid-19 to supply workwear in Australia and New Zealand, but then moved into masks, hand sanitiser and other personal protective equipment when the pandemic started.
"We did really well through the Covid period supplying the Australia and NZ market and we simply felt like, why don't we have an event and have a giveaway?"
He said all the "fake money" notes offered discounts for products that people could buy on the Safety Warehouse website.
"Some goods were free - enter a code and it was 100 per cent off. There was a range of things," he said.
People traveling for hours, desperate parents and children expecting thousands of dollars dropped on them. People barging each other. No cash in sight, just fake ass money with discounts. Good one Safety Warehouse. Whats worse it was manned by volunteers 🤦♀️ pic.twitter.com/xLpR3YD7zm
Green MP Ricardo Menendez March, who was attending an event across the road, tweeted that he was "absolutely disgusted with The Safety Warehouse".
Absolutely disgusted with The Safety Warehouse for throwing a $100K cash giveaway and then throwing fake money in the mix. People in need from across the region gathered, clearly hoping their hardship would be alleviated. There was a lot of upset and the situation became unsafe pic.twitter.com/eEVbbcQGEZ
"It was a free event. People came with tickets," he said.
"There was music. It was incredibly loud, it was almost like a rave.
"It was just like really bad scaffolding in Aotea Square, and people on top of it throwing confetti and glitter and eventually fake cash.
this is exploitative and cruel. especially in light of the increased level of suffering so many people have had to endure this year. i hope The Safety Warehouse will be held to account.
A Police spokeswoman confirmed that police were called.
"Late yesterday [Friday] Police became aware of a promotional event talking place in Aotea Square today," she said.
"Police were in attendance for safety reasons.
Angry crowds attacked the organisers' car after a company advertised a $100,000 "cash drop" and dropped fake money instead. Photo / Supplied
"Following the event there were a number of reports of disorder in the Aotea Square area. Additional units were called to the scene to help ensure the safety of all those involved.
Angry scenes at Auckland after the 'fake money' promotion.
"Enquiries into the incident are ongoing."
The Safety Warehouse Facebook page was taken down after many people posted angry comments about the event.
Auckland Live - who controls Aotea Square - confirmed they given approval for the venue to be used for the event.
"Auckland Live issued a venue hireage agreement for this event, based on the event promoter's application meeting all our requirements," director Robbie Macrae said.
