Bogus Lions goods seized
Three or four people selling unauthorised merchandise before British and Irish Lions games are being investigated.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has, along with the police, seized goods from three to four individuals before Lions games in Christchurch and Dunedin.
MBIE general manager of tourism, sectors, regions and cities Iain Cossar said it had a notolerance approach to the sale of unauthorised goods which exploited the Lions series.
‘‘MBIE is currently investigating a small number of incidents involving the sale of merchandise that have an unauthorised association with the Lions series,’’ he said.
‘‘Three to four individuals have been seen selling unauthorised goods in both Christchurch and Dunedin before the Lions series matches.
‘‘MBIE, with the support of police, has seized goods from these individuals in both locations.’’
The Lions series was declared a ‘‘major event’’ under legislation which restricted trading and advertising within direct proximity to match venues.
This meant sponsors had exclusive rights in return for their investment and were protected from unauthorised commercial exploitation.
This could include unauthorised association with the event, ticket-scalping, and trading or advertising in a clean zone.
The maximum penalty for such conduct was a $150,000 fine.
There had been low levels of ambush marketing in these clean zones, apart from the people selling unauthorised goods.
Cossar said people should not buy anything from unofficial street traders.
‘‘The sale of these types of goods directly exploit the event and may impact on New Zealand’s reputation as a world-class major event host.’’
‘‘MBIE will continue to take a no-tolerance approach to the sale of unauthorised goods that exploit the Lions series and will continue to work closely with local councils and other government agencies to stop this activity.’’
The Lions series, a 10-match, three-test tour involving seven cities over six weeks, was expected to generate about $135 million for the economy.
About 350,000 tickets have been sold for the tour, and about 20,000 international expected.
Earlier this month, police arrested a man in connection with the theft from a letterbox of two All Blacks v British and Irish Lions tickets, which then ended up on Trade Me.
The 31-year-old Lower Hutt man was charged with receiving stolen Lions test match tickets, which police believed were stolen from a letterbox in Wellington visitors were when they were delivered in May.
A family member tried selling them on Trade Me, and at the time police said they were hopeful this would be the only case involving stolen Lions tickets.
The World Masters Games and Rugby League World Cup have also been declared major events this year.
The first charges under the Major Events Management Act were made in 2010 after Customs intercepted a shipment of more than 1000 shirts ahead of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Terry Lung Chan, and his company CL NZ Trading Company, were each fined $20,000 for importing the fake Rugby World Cup merchandise.
Chan left for China shortly after being charged.
At the time, the fine was said to send a very strong message to people.