Photos of Key taken during a factory visit have surfaced in an ad. Photo / Supplied
Photos of Key taken during a factory visit have surfaced in an ad. Photo / Supplied
Politicians normally love being pictured with babies, but Prime Minister John Key has taken exception to a baby formula company using his image without permission.
Key's office will ask Auckland milk powder manufacturers Cowala to remove a picture of him from advertising its powdered milk products.
A spokeswoman for thePrime Minister said it was "disappointing" that Key's image had been used without approval.
"The Prime Minister's office was unaware this photograph was being used in an advertisement until it was brought to our attention by the Herald on Sunday.
"The advertisement is misleading as it implies the company's product has an endorsement from the Prime Minister, which it does not.
Chief executive Karl Ye said the advert had been created by one store, and he had told the store to remove the advertisement. "We didn't have anything to do with making this advert."
Key was a big supporter of New Zealand exporters, Ye said.
Cowala exports its baby formula to China, Japan and Korea.