A Wellington real estate company has found itself the target of an online spoof campaign.
Three Wellington programmers created a website designed to look like agency Lowe and Co which allows users to insert their own slogans on the agency's billboards.
The doctored images have been making their way around the internet, as users share their frustration with the housing crisis.
Mix Irving, a member of the group behind the site, told Morning Report he found the real-life Lowe and Co billboards, which feature lines such as "We love Newtown" and "We can talk being the best in Wellington, but we'd rather show you", galling.
"In a market where people in my generation are having a really hard time affording housing, whether that's buying new homes for their first time, or even renting sometimes, gloating about how well you're doing in the midst of that doesn't feel very good."
He said he initially considered defacing the billboards but realised there was another option out there.
"So, do I do the idea of photoshopping billboards and putting them up on the internet? Because who's to know whether it's real or not.
"A friend of mine, Sam took that idea and prototyped this application, which lets anyone write their own billboard."
Lowe and Co managing director Craig Lowe said in a statement the company's campaigns have always been tongue in cheek.
“So we see the humour in many of the memes, and are humbled our billboards have attracted so much attention.
"Of course, this shines a spotlight on the more serious issue of housing affordability in New Zealand. We care deeply that every generation can buy a house and are happy to be part of that conversation.”
RNZ
