28 Mar 2025: Rotorua and Kiwi references in Aussie perfume release

Media: NZ Herald

Topic: Rotorua references and Kiwi slang in Australian perfume release

Enquiry

Reporter sought comment from Mayor Tania Tapsell about an Australian influencer Ashy Bines who released a new perfume into New Zealand via a promotional text message to customers [likening the smell to Rotorua and using Kiwi slang].

Response

Mayor Tapsell provided the following response:

“This is unbelievably unfortunate that an influencer and her team in Australia thought this was acceptable.

“They clearly don’t have a great grasp on reality as Rotorua is a beautiful place with beautiful people, that’s why we get up to 3 million visitors a year.

“I support the many people who are calling out this view and while I respect and appreciate that there has been an apology it still raises concerns about how offensive their perception of us was.”