10 October 2006.
‘Buy Kiwi Made’ decision – a step in the right direction.
The Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association says that the Government’s decision not to extend the ‘Buy Kiwi Made’ brand to
companies that produce their goods overseas is a step in the right direction in supporting manufacturers in New Zealand.
CEO John Walley says to have widened a programme that sought to promote the value of buying local to include companies
that produce offshore would have made the whole issue a farce.
“The Government came under pressure from companies who wanted to profit both from using low cost countries and carry
local brand associations via, Buy Kiwi Made”, says Mr. Walley. “The traded goods sector has had to deal with competition
from low cost countries and some have relocated offshore. The lure of lower cost will remain a large incentive for New
Zealand companies to relocate and there is still much to be done to reverse this trend however, this decision is a step
forward and we welcome that”.
The CMA remains cautious over the future of Buy Kiwi Made. Mr. Walley says that those companies which fall outside of
its requirements will start to look for ways to gain access to Government support and lobby to distort the terms once
again. Mr. Walley says that clear guidelines need to be established quickly in order to prevent this, along with a clear
direction to ensure that the ‘initiatives’ don’t just end up with more jobs in the Government and not much action in the
wider economy.
“Buy Kiwi Made thinking supports New Zealand industry, its standards or practice, quality and the local labour force. It
is more about consumer attitudes than a marketing tool, especially at a time when New Zealand manufacturers increasingly
have to compete with low cost countries. Produce in a low cost country, fine, but don’t try to claim to be Kiwi Made –
trying to have it both ways is at best disingenuous. The decision not to allow ‘Buy Kiwi Made’ to become ‘Buy Anywhere
Made’ is a step in the right direction”.
ENDS