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A chain of duty free stores selling overseas-made cigarettes under the brand name "New Zealand" says it has removed the stock from its shelves.
The Luxembourg-made cigarettes, packaged in black with a silver fern emblem and with "New Zealand" written on the packaging in large letters, caused an uproar after being found in DFS Galleria stores at New Zealand airports.
Tourism New Zealand and anti-smoking organisations said using our clean and green image to promote the sale of cigarettes was a deplorable and insulting act of exploitation.
In a statement today DFS Galleria said the cigarettes, described as being "luxuriously mild", had been removed from store shelves.
"DFS is grateful this issue has been raised and in no way intended any disrespect to any customers or member of the community," said its Oceania managing director Stephen Timms.
- NZPA
