Pak'n Save supermarket shopper without mask denied entry, demands apology

Jody Devine is now seeking an apology from Pak'n Save Wainoni over the incident. Photo / Geoff Sloan

A woman was stopped from shopping at a Christchurch supermarket after security questioned the validity of a special pass allowing her to not wear a mask.

Jody Devine is now seeking an apology from Pak'n Save Wainoni over the incident, which she says has traumatised her.

However, Foodstuffs New Zealand head of corporate affairs Antoinette Laird told The Star yesterday the customer was "politely asked to provide documentation they had a mask exemption" but became verbally and physically abusive towards a member of their team.

"Following this outburst, the customer was asked to leave the store and we understand has now gone to the police."

Jody Devine is now seeking an apology from Pak'n Save Wainoni over the incident. Photo / Geoff Sloan

Devine, who does not wear a face mask due to a tic disorder and PTSD, was not expecting any trouble on her visit to the store where she often shops without incident.

Her medical exemption card was emailed to her following an application to the Disabled Persons Assembly NZ. She printed it off and laminated it.

She also had further documents saved on her phone to provide more details about her conditions if asked, she said.

"I shopped on Tuesday and it was fine. On Wednesday it wasn't fine."

Devine was surprised when security guards told her the exemption card was insufficient.

She then tried to push through the two guards, but they grabbed her and physically blocked her, an experience she found frightening.

She then began recording video on her phone as management asked her to leave.

"I just want Pak'n Save to do the right thing and apologise."

People tended to make rude comments when she was running errands without a mask, and after her experience at Pak'n Save, shopping was now her partner's job, she said.

"Mentally, I can't do it."

Said Laird: "Our teams are all working extremely hard to keep customers and their teammates safe, abuse of any kind is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in any of our stores."

- Starnews.co.nz