A woman who claimed she was given a ''violent'' massage and was left with a sore back, neck and shoulders has triggered a top-level health investigation.
She complained to a Deputy Health and Disability Commissioner, Theo Baker, after using an online promotional voucher to have a 90-minute Tui Na treatment - a Chinese medical message using acupressure.
The woman said the treatment was very forceful and painful and involved the therapist climbing onto the massage table on all fours and lowering her knees onto her back, and was thumped her on her back four times with the worker's closed fist.
The woman told an inquiry that she was told in broken English ''you will relax''.
In a report released today, the client said the nature of the Tui Na massage was never explained to her, she understood it would be relaxing, and she thought Tui Na was the name of the therapist.
The customer also believed she was misled by an ACC sign outside the massage room, which turned out to be linked to a clinic that was no longer being used.
Ms Baker said the therapist should have explained that Tui Na was a deep tissue massage and could potentially be uncomfortable and painful.
The therapist said it was an unfortunate situation, resulting partly from her limited English.
And she said when she did climb onto the massage table, her hands and feet were always supporting her own weight.
The therapist provided a refund and has been asked to write an apology to the woman and review the way she tells clients about the treatment she offers.
Ms Baker said due to the lack of information provided to the woman, she was unable to make an informed choice or give informed consent.
