Video shows a forklift operator threatening to use his machine on a vehicle outside an Auckland Mitre 10, December 11.
Footage shows a Mitre 10 staff member using a forklift to threaten a ute driver in East Auckland, sparking debate online.
Mitre 10 has launched an investigation, expressing disappointment and emphasising customer respect.
A Mitre 10 spokesperson has spoken out, citing abuse and threats from the ute driver.
A Mitre 10 Botany spokesperson is defending staff actions after footage emerged showinga worker threatening a driver with a forklift.
The video showed a ute parked in front of the Mitre 10 Mega Botany before a staff member in a forklift drove forward, stuck the forks under the ute, and started to raise them.
“I’m giving ya 30 seconds,” he warned the ute driver.
But the Mitre 10 Botany spokesperson, who wanted to remain anonymous due to security concerns, told the Herald the ute driver was “abusive and threatening” and staff were concerned for their safety.
“He drove in so fast that two senior staff members thought he was going to crash through the cones and into the building by the crossing,” they said.
The man’s vehicle was parked on part of the pedestrian crossing, they said, and he was politely asked to move his vehicle multiple times.
“He refused and became abusive and threatening. The two staff members were concerned for their safety and that of other staff and customers,” the spokesperson said.
“He was not rational and his behaviour was highly erratic.”
Footage showed the confrontation between a driver and forklift operator outside a Mitre 10 store.
The spokesperson said they called for a forklift for protection, it did not touch the vehicle at any stage, but was parked strategically to prevent the man from “driving and potentially hurting someone”.
They said the man drove away “at extremely high speed” before he shouted abuse at staff.
“He was saying that he would come back and f*** you up and that this is not over and he was going to come back and get you.”
The spokesperson called it an “isolated and extremely distressing situation” for their team, who faced a “serious threat”.
“The store was forced to act to protect its customers and staff and only a short part of this situation was posted on social media,” they said.
“We value our customers and hope such an event does not happen again.”
They said the store has since received multiple threats. They have contacted the police.
The woman who took the video told the Herald a lot of staff in the area are “fed up”. She described the area as “prolific” for shoplifting.
She said she understood why staff would be upset the man had parked where he had but described their reaction as “over the top”.
A Mitre 10 NZ spokeperson previously told the Herald they were “very disappointed to learn about this situation”.
“We are looking into the matter further. Our focus remains on maintaining the high standards and respect that our customers and community expect from us.”
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