Watch: ‘Apologize’ – Jacinda Ardern to Safety Warehouse after ‘fake money’ with $ 100k cash drop

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said organizers of a “$ 100,000 cash drop” in which “fake money” was handed out should apologize.

Ardern said she couldn’t “imagine how anyone would think it’s a good idea.”

“They should apologize,” Ardern said of The Safety Warehouse, which organized the event.

He said it was likely that it would have caused a lot of confusion and harm to people at the event.

Up to 1,000 people showed up at Auckland’s Aotea Square on Saturday expecting to be part of a cash drawing, but instead got mostly discount coupons that resemble $ 5 bills.

The Safety Warehouse’s public relations stunt sparked anger when coupon pickers discovered it wasn’t “real” money.

Police have confirmed that they are now reviewing the incident and making inquiries with the event organizers. A complaint has also been filed with the Commerce Commission.

Safety Warehouse Managing Director Andrew Thorn said in a statement that the company defended its marketing and the coupons issued and insisted that “actual funds” were given away along with the coupons.

The online store, which sells protective clothing, had announced that $ 100,000 in cash would be given away in a “live cash raffle”, with the promise that “REAL MONEY will fly from the sky.”

Mosque terrorist attack investigation

Ardern said the government will appoint a minister to present recommendations from the investigation into the Christchurch terror attack on March 15.

The prime minister referred to tomorrow’s release of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the March 15 shooting, which claimed the lives of 51 people.

Ardern said that reading the report was “difficult”, but that it would be much more difficult for those directly affected by the events of March 15.

He said the report is complete.

He said the attacks showed New Zealand that there are “loopholes” in our country’s free speech laws.

Ardern said that is something the government must take into account when it comes to the investigative report.

Ardern said there were a number of recommendations that the government had anticipated; Those are the issues that will be addressed first.

But he said the government will outline its thoughts on many of the report’s recommendations.

The cabinet met today and Ardern said the government will release some immediate responses to the report.

But it will take longer to address other recommendations.

He revealed that the government will appoint a “coordinating minister.”

Their job will be to update the public on the developments of the recommendations that the Government may adopt.

However, he did not want to say which minister will be responsible.

That will be revealed tomorrow, he told the media.

When asked if the public can expect major changes as a result of the report, Ardern said there will be a number of recommendations.

“It will take us some time to implement some of the findings.”

But he did not want to go into details, as he wanted to wait for the report to be released tomorrow.

Ardern told the media yesterday that the report would be “significant,” at about 800 pages.

Ardern told reporters this afternoon that he will be in Whakatane on Wednesday for commemorations of the Whakaari / White Island eruption.

Ardern said this will be a very painful week.

That’s due to both the Commission’s report and the Whakaari / White Island anniversary.

“We all know that the last three years have been particularly tough for New Zealanders.”

Ardern met with the victims and survivors of the mosque shooting attacks on Sunday at the Ngā Hau e Whā National Marae in Christchurch.

The meeting, he said, was an opportunity for victims to voice their concerns, before the report on the shooting comes out tomorrow.

“We have told you: there are some areas where you will see us respond immediately [to] and others where we will have to go back and work in more detail, and spend a little more time. “

But he said one of the main things he wanted the victims to know is that “there will be responsibility on our part in terms of compliance with the Royal Commission.” [report]”.

“I want to make sure that after such considerable work … we make sure we act on it.”

Most reports of this nature provide a series of recommendations to the government on how to avoid a repeat of such an event.

Ardern has seen the report, as have some families affected by the attack.

But it will not elaborate on its findings until they are public.

On Wednesday, Parliament rises for the summer and will not sit again until the beginning of February.