Buy New Zealand Made ? What Is That ?
On Stuff this morning are 2 Buy New Zealand Made stories . Importing is more difficult , people are losing their jobs , we are all in this together , they are just like me -- all statements that make you feel good , with good intentions .
Two examples that are listed . Firstly , Red Band Gumboots and $289 tramping shoes . It is 30 years since I climbed Mt Te Aroha , so my tramping consists of walking from the Car Park to the supermarket or hairdresser or parts supplier . So I will most likely buy $40 sturdyish boots from K Mart . Gumboots once every 3 or 4 years when I go to Fieldays , and 2 or 3 times when I trim trees . Too uncomfortable to mow the lawn in . So I'll go with the $25 cheap n nasties .
The other story though , even blurrier ! Buy N Z Made beer . Craft beer . At $5 a bottle . Sure , it contains hints of the Alps with a crisp spiral accent of lavender and the nose of a bovine relocation establishment , combined with a heady aftertaste of combustible automotive propulsion juice . Yep , can hardly wait .
Apparently Lion and DB are owned by seperate Japanese companies , so we can't have that , can we . The beers generally are great ( and get better the more you have haha ) , they are $1.25 a stubbie at the superdupermarket , BUT they employ 1000's of New Zealanders , and they 'support' the hospitality industry ( yes , it is a 2 way street , but a lot of bars wouldn't exist without the big breweries help ) .
My attitude ( once I realised that buying from The Warehouse was the most expensive way of buying something ) has been that I buy what I consider the best value for money FOR ME . Something I use a lot , I buy the best I can , no matter whether it is imported or NZ made . Something that isn't used much , but is handy , I buy cheap to mid-range .
I am unlikely to change . Will you buy more NZ made ? Do you consider foreign owned companies but with products made by NZers N Z Made ?
Some Choice News!
DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.
Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.
For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.
Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?
We hope this brings a smile!
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
Will these roadworks affect you?
Don’t expect a quick trip between Cambridge and Tamahere for much of this year, because major roadworks are starting.
Asphalt works on that section of Waikato Expressway will run from March through to late 2026, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) says. Motorists are warned to plan for significant delays.
“Unfortunately the pavement, particularly in the slow lanes, has deteriorated faster than expected,” NZTA’s Roger Brady said.
Will these roadworks affect you? Tell us more in the comments (adding NFP if you don't want your words used in print).
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