Flying the Flag for Local Gifts
New Zealand – For years, many New Zealand souvenir shops have been stocked with the familiar imported knick-knacks. Shelves are filled with plastic tiki, stuffed toy kiwi, pohutakawa hand cream and jandal key-rings.
Ironically, many of these goods intended to showcase New Zealand are recent arrivals themselves, from factories in China or Taiwan.
But Flag Souvenirs owner David Bolam-Smith says the tide has turned against cheap imports, and more tourist customers are questioning the provenance of their purchases.