[2] They are made in Palmerston North by Carousel Confectionery,[3] and have been around since the early 1970s.
[4] Writing in the Journal of Consumer Research, Beverland et al. say that Spaceman Candy Sticks may form national identity by a process of 'splitting', where outsiders and New Zealanders perceive Spaceman Candy Sticks differently.
[5] Spaceman candy sticks have been around since the early 1970s, known originally as 'Space Man cigarettes'.
[4][1] Due to concerns by a health watchdog that consumers of the sweet would become cigarette addicts, the name was changed to 'Space Man candy sticks'.
[1] In 2006 Bonza Confectionery, the maker of Spaceman Candy Sticks, was purchased by Carousel Confectionary and removed the red tip from the sweet to help remove the association with cigarettes.