General
People's Choice
Our People’s Choice awards recognise products and services that stand out for customer satisfaction.
What is People’s Choice?
The People’s Choice award is given to providers that rate above average for customer satisfaction and meet our other performance criteria.
Awards are based on our customer satisfaction surveys, conducted with either our members or a representative sample of the New Zealand population.
Our criteria
A brand must have at least 30 responses in our survey to be eligible for the award. For categories with no clear winners or no brands that meet our benchmark, we don’t award People’s Choice. We also won’t make an award if we have concerns about the company’s compliance with consumer law or standards of commercial practice.
Our licence programme
A People’s Choice licence is available for any product or service that has been awarded People’s Choice status. A licence enables a brand to use the award in its advertising and promotion alongside relevant products and services.
The list of brands that hold a current licence to use the People’s Choice award brandmark is available below and is published in Consumer magazine.
All applications of the award brandmark are approved by Consumer NZ prior to use and meet our brand usage guidelines.
Licensed brands
The following brands are licensed to use their People's Choice award in their marketing and promotions for the products and services below. Their licence fees help us maintain our research, testing and advocacy work to protect and empower Kiwi consumers. Any concerns about the use of the People's Choice logo should be sent to info@consumer.org.nz.
Banks
- TSB - Banking
Cars
- Suzuki - Car brand
Energy
- Powershop - Electricity retailer
Insurance
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AA Insurance - House, contents and car insurance
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MAS - House, contents, car and life insurance
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FMG - House, contents and car insurance
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Police Health Plan - Health insurance
Internet and mobile services
- Skinny mobile - Mobile service provider
KiwiSaver
- Milford - KiwiSaver provider
- Simplicity - KiwiSaver provider
Retailers
- 1OO% - Appliance retailer
- Beds R Us - Bed retailer
- STIHL SHOP - Hardware retailer
FAQs for consumers
How does the licence programme work?
Brands awarded People’s Choice status are eligible to purchase a non-exclusive licence to use the award brandmark in their advertising and promotion. People’s Choice is awarded annually or bi-annually depending on the product or service category.
Why was the People’s Choice licence programme developed?
The licence programme was launched to reward excellence by enabling brands to advertise and promote that they have been awarded People’s Choice status. Many companies already refer to our research. However, the references are sometimes incorrect, out-of-date or without our permission. A licensing arrangement allows us to more effectively manage this.
How does this affect Consumer’s independence?
Our independence is what sets us apart from other organisations. We select products for testing based on market research. Manufacturers, distributors and service providers that have received awards and/or have purchased a licence have no involvement in our research and testing programme.
Consumer NZ reserves the right to withdraw a People’s Choice award from a product or service if appropriate.
How is the income from the licence programme used?
Our work is funded by member fees, revenue from the Consumer Recommends, Top Brand and People’s Choice licence programmes, the Consumer Trusted accreditation programme and contract work, mostly with government departments. All revenue from our licence programmes is used to increase the scope of our research, testing and advocacy work.
How do I know which brands are licensed to use the brandmark?
If you are concerned about a brand being promoted without a licence, feel the award brandmark is being used in a confusing manner, or wish to ask any questions about the licence programme, please email us on info@consumer.org.nz.
FAQs for businesses
What are the benefits of the licence programme?
People’s Choice status is awarded to products and services that perform strongly in overall satisfaction from Consumer NZ surveys. The licence programme allows you to celebrate this and communicate it to your customers and retailer network.
A licence allows you to use the People’s Choice brandmark in a variety of ways – print, online, TV, radio, point of sale, packaging and other advertising, and promotion executions approved by Consumer NZ.
How much does a licence cost?
Please contact Chris Green, Business Programmes Manager - chris@consumer.org.nz.
What is the duration of a licence?
People’s Choice is awarded annually or bi-annually depending on the product or service category. The period of the licence is usually 12 months.
Are there any restrictions around being granted a licence?
Licences will only be granted when the People’s Choice status is current. Eligibility for a licence is at the discretion of Consumer NZ.
How do I apply for a licence?
Once People’s Choice status has been awarded to your product or service, you will be notified by Consumer NZ. Or you can contact Chris Green, Business Programmes Manager - chris@consumer.org.nz.
What is the licence process?
- You are a supplier whose product(s) or service(s) have been awarded People’s Choice status.
- You notify Consumer NZ you wish to buy a licence.
- The date of commencement for the licence period is agreed.
- The contract is drawn up and sent out with your award brandmark files.
- Your promotional material is submitted for approval to Consumer NZ.
- Your licence fee is paid and your licence period commences.
Do I need to check with Consumer NZ before I use the People’s Choice brandmark in my advertising and marketing material?
All use of the award brandmark must be approved by Consumer NZ prior to use.
Can we use text or quote an article alongside the People’s Choice brandmark?
The licensee can use limited excerpts from Consumer reports relating to the product or service for which they have been awarded People’s Choice in their advertising and promotion. All excerpts must be approved by Consumer NZ before publication.
Is there a limit to the number of times I can use the People’s Choice brandmark?
There is no limit as long as it is used in accordance with the criteria outlined within the licence agreement and is approved by Consumer NZ prior to use.
Who should I contact for more information?
If you wish to discuss the People’s Choice licence programme further, please contact:
Chris Green, Business Programmes Manager - chris@consumer.org.nz.
Our licence programmes
We award Consumer Recommends, People’s Choice and Top Brand based on our independent lab testing and member surveys of product reliability and owner satisfaction. We also assess and accredit businesses as Consumer Trusted if they meet our strict criteria. A licence enables a product or brand to use these awards in its advertising and promotion.
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