Chilly reception for NZ bank gibe

The beleaguered DB Group has struck another public relations snag - this time with the Deputy Prime Minister over its Tui brand.

Four billboards with the slogan "Kiwi Bank - I'd trust the Government with my money - Yeah Right" have been taken down over the past couple of days around the lower North Island.

DB's communications consultant, Jo Jalfon, said the ads were part of Tui's "Yeah Right" campaign, which made light-hearted, irreverent comments in keeping with the beer's image.

"They try to keep them appropriate to the location - in Auckland we've got a huge amount of roadworks going on at the moment and there's one saying, 'Sorry for the inconvenience'."

She said the company had received no complaints about the Kiwi Bank billboard and it was taken down because the comments changed every few weeks.

Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton, who spearheaded the Kiwi Bank, has not found the ads particularly funny, but his office said yesterday that he had not suggested the billboards be taken down.

But he did hit back by taking a dig of his own at the beer giant.

"I'd trust the Singapore-owned DB Breweries to keep brewing Tui at Mangatainoka - yeah, right," Mr Anderton said.

- NZPA