KEY POINTS:
Auckland-based chamber choir Musica Sacra has been told to remove a misleading quote from its website in which the Queen is quoted as saying: "They sang frightfully well."
The Queen apparently made the comment in March 2002 after hearing a group of eight sing during a morning service at St Andrew's Church, Taupo.
But a problem has arisen over who the group were and whether Musica Sacra is entitled to use the quote.
Former member Sue Maiden complained to the Advertising Standards Authority about the quote being used on Musica Sacra's fundraising material and website, saying it was misleading and untrue.
"The Queen did not make this remark about Musica Sacra," she said in her complaint.
"I was a member of Musica Sacra from 1998 to 2005 and I know that Musica Sacra never sang for the Queen, and she never came to a concert or service with Musica Sacra singing."
Ms Maiden said the group of eight who sang for the Queen were called The Taupo Camerata, and while some were Musica Sacra members, it was incorrect for the 30-strong choir to take credit while fundraising in Auckland's "extremely competitive" market.
"I think that this is misrepresentation, false advertising and soliciting for funds under false pretences."
Musica Sacra told the complaints board that the group who sang for the Queen were all fulltime or part-time members of the choir.
They were all carefully selected by Musica Sacra's conductor and were called The Taupo Camerata only for the day.
However, the complaints board found that it was misleading for Musica Sacra to use an endorsement that had been made about a group of only eight.
"In its view the subgroup would have to be comprised of the bulk of the choir before it could be referred to as being representative of the choir as a whole."
Conductor Dr Indra Hughes said that despite upholding Ms Maiden's main complaint, the board had found that the Queen's quote had been used in good faith.
