Consumer NZ has opened nominations to find the biggest lemons of 2026 in products, businesses and services sector in New Zealand.
Consumers Yeah, Nah Awards highlights the worst of the worst – the ones that have excelled at letting consumers down. Awards are an annual event that spotlights those businesses, products and services that have been downright dodgy, disappointing or difficult to deal with.
Last year’s awards covered a wide range of issues, including sticky plasters that did not stick, misleading claims about consumer rights, online services that were difficult to unsubscribe from, and retailers’ promoting “specials” that were anything but.
“If you’ve been at the pointy end of a bad experience that’s cost you time or money, given you a headache and left a bad taste in your mouth, we want to hear about it,” says Consumer NZ head of research and advocacy Gemma Rasmussen.
“The Yeah, Nah Awards are an opportunity for consumers to make their voices heard and put bad operators on notice.”
“We want to hear from the people on the receiving end of dodgy deals, broken promises and baffling business behaviour,” says Rasmussen. “Tell us what’s left you annoyed, out of pocket or shaking your head in disbelief – and help us expose this year’s Yeah, Nah winners.”
Click here to tell Consumer NZ about your disappointing consumer experience and make a nomination.
Last year, Pams plastic plasters won the “You Had One Job” Award after a tip off that the plasters “do not stick properly” and Consumer’s in-house trial confirmed it.
Barkers took out the “On Bad Terms” Award for potentially misleading consumers about their rights.
The “Unsubscribe Impossible” Award went to HelloFresh, the food delivery service for ‘exasperating’ cancellation process.
Finally, the “No, Harvey Norman, No” Award went to Harvey Norman for their ‘bewildering number of specials were labelled “super deal”, “great price” or “huge deal” when they really were not’.
Nominations close 31 July 2026.
