Kiwi-ness crux of tissue war

By PAM GRAHAM

Carter Holt Harvey, the maker of Sorbent and Purex toilet paper, has failed to get rival brand Kiwisoft off supermarket shelves.

But Kiwisoft maker Cottonsoft has been asked to give an undertaking to the High Court to label products as "made in New Zealand from imported paper", or "made in New Zealand and Indonesia".

Carter Holt went to court to argue it was the only toilet paper maker in New Zealand and that Dunedin-based Cottonsoft, which uses paper imported from Indonesia, did not manufacture in New Zealand.

Cottonsoft advertised its products as made in New Zealand.

Justice Rhys Harrison said only part of the manufacturing process occurred in New Zealand.

"A promotional label which restricts the manufacturing nomination to New Zealand is therefore false and misleading."

A separate issue was whether a kiwi logo suggested to the average shopper that goods were made in New Zealand or that the company making them was owned by New Zealanders.

Cottonsoft is New Zealand-owned, while Carter Holt is mostly foreign-owned.

Justice Harrison said the average shopper would take a kiwi logo to imply a local company.

Cottonsoft has until May 1 to file an undertaking to the court to amend its promotional material.