Help us find the biggest lemons of 2026
The Consumer NZ Yeah, Nah Awards highlight the worst of the worst in business, putting pressure on poor-performing companies to up their game.
Nominate nowEvery year, we receive a heap of complaints about less-than-satisfactory products and services.
Our Yeah, Nah Awards are an annual event that spotlights those New Zealand businesses, products and services that have been downright dodgy, disappointing or difficult to deal with. This is an awards ceremony that chief executives will want to miss.
What qualifies for an award?
Any business, product or service that's disappointed you could be fit for an award.
It may be your favourite chocolate bar has shrunk by 25%, or perhaps a fridge you purchased doesn’t properly cool your food. Or maybe a company misled you into thinking it was sustainable, or a business hit you with a hidden fee leaving you feeling upset and short-changed.
Whatever your story, we want to hear it.
The “You Had One Job” Award
For sticky plasters that don’t really stick.
A Consumer member tipped us off that Pams plastic plasters “do not stick properly” and our in-house trial confirmed it. Unable to manage the one job they’re named for – these plasters just couldn’t stick it out. If you’ve got one job, you should probably do it.
Read moreThe “On Bad Terms” Award
For potentially misleading consumers about their consumer rights.
If those briefs don’t meet the brief, yes you can return your undies. We did a sweep of 30 online stores return policies and we were unimpressed with Barkers for making the highest number of dubious claims about your rights – earning a dishonorable mention in this years’ disappointment stakes.
Read more
The “Unsubscribe Impossible” Award
For a subscription that’s a mission to escape.
Signing up to HelloFresh is easy – but unsubscribing is a mission. After months of research into deceptive online design practices, this food delivery service stood out for designing a particularly exasperating cancellation process, also known as a subscription trap. No-one should need to Tom Cruise their way out of their meal box service.
Read moreThe “No, Harvey Norman, No” Award
For promoting specials that are more usual than special.
Following a review of pricing at some of New Zealand’s big box retailers, we were bewildered by the number of specials that Harvey Norman labelled as a “super deal”, “great price” or “huge deal.” When something says it’s on sale – you need to trust it really is. Harvey Norman makes that a surprisingly difficult task.
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The winning criteria
To be a contender for a Yeah, Nah Award, a product, business or service must meet one or more of the following criteria:
- failing a legal standard
- stinging customers with hidden charges
- using false claims or broken promises
- selling products or services that are an absolute rip off
- using unclear messaging or design that causes consumer confusion, frustration or just plain outrage.
We need your support
We’re a 100% independent, not-for-profit charity, dedicated to empowering a marketplace of confident consumers.
If you want to help us continue to advocate on behalf of all New Zealanders, please consider supporting the work we do with a donation. Ngā mihi nui ki a koe!