Buy New Zealand made: it’s good for us
Now, I’m not commenting on recent news items, but the option of buying New Zealand made products is looking more attractive by the day.
You’re probably familiar with the little red and blue kiwi emblem that signals a product is made right here in New Zealand (it’s part of the Buy New Zealand Made programme, which has been running since 1988). And you may have heard rumblings from our government over the last few years about the importance of buying items that are true blue New Zealand made. The government Buy Kiwi Made scheme was formed as part of post-election negotiations between the Labour Party and the Green Party. Around $11.5 million has been spent on supporting manufacturing initiatives and promoting the buying of New Zealand made goods.
If you shop with an eye out for the kiwi, you’ll help:
- Increase our country’s manufacturing capabilities
- Create employment opportunities for New Zealanders
- Build brand loyalty for Kiwi brands
- Reduce consumption of fuel for transport of goods and materials
- Reduce our reliance on imported goods
- Reduce New Zealand’s trade deficit (the value of our imports exceeds the value of our exports)
Buying local starts at home: look for the Buy NZ Made kiwi and ask your local NZ shops to stock New Zealand made goods!
September 1st, 2007 at 11:42 am
Too many things we buy are made in Asian sweat shops. Not that long ago there were wars that were fought to end slavery but is it ok now - as long as it’s in someone else’s country?
The NZ government is doing its best to woo China, so we can be the best of bed mates. There’s only one country that’s going to come out on top here.
Most NZ’ers like to think we have a strong social conscience and live in a fair and just society. And by virtue of our small population (that is slowly becoming aware of environmental concerns), we think we’re a bit green too.
NZ’s brand is completely opposite to China’s.
NZ is supporting and encouraging a military dictatorship that happily suppresses people whereever it goes. If citizens are forced to work long hours for unbelievably low wages, then it is clearly slavery. Ten year old children should be at school, not in factories doing 70 hour work weeks. China’s out of control industrialisation is destroying China’s environment and creating horribly polluted cities.
If we set up a Chinese-style factory in NZ, with all the trimmings, then it would be a national disgrace and no one would put up with it. But it seems we’re quite fine with it if we can’t actually see it on our turf.
There are some very serious warning signs blaring at us, but we still seem to be cruising down the road of short-term gratification.