Bogus Kiwi-made labels bring $48,000 fine

Photo / Hawkes Bay Today

Christchurch company Prokiwi International has been fined $48,000 for misleading labelling by suggesting its products were from New Zealand when they were actually made in China.

Prokiwi markets products including soap, hand and body lotion and lip balm.

In the Christchurch District Court yesterday, Judge Philip Moran said Prokiwi's misrepresentation of products was blatant and cynical.

The company had pleaded guilty to 17 charges of mislabelling under the Fair Trading Act, of selling products with iconic NZ imagery when the products were made only from ingredients sourced in Asia, and all the steps of the manufacturing process were carried out in China.