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    Production in the New Zealand textile and garment industry with particular reference to short runs : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Technology in Industrial Management and Engineering at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1977) Maxwell, David Peter
    "The textile and garment industry in New Zealand is a very diverse industry covering a wide variety of products and operations. The industry has the difficulty of being composed of a large number of small individual firms running independently (1) ". The above quote is one typical of those found in three articles relating to production in the New Zealand textile and garment industry i.e. a) Holden Report (2) b) New Zealand Textile Institute conference 1974 (3) c) Working paper for textile and garment industry research (1) . Short run production is an aspect of the industry in New Zealand which has been identified as one which requires further analysis. "Greatest immediate problem in the textile industry is the production of small batches or runs (1) ". [FROM INTRODUCTION]
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    A geographical study of the New Zealand textile manufacturing industry, with particular reference to the Wellington region
    (Massey University, 1975) Vickery, Evan Wakefield
    This thesis is a study of the New Zealand textile manufacturing industry and its components. It investigates the nature of location patterns, the changes within the components of the industry and the changes in industrial organisation which have occurred since 1950. The location of factories engaged in manufacturing textiles is detailed, shifts in components of the industry are analysed and early location factors in the industry are discussed. It is argued that technological advances in various facets of the industry have been influential in determining the present day location of the factories in the industry. The impact of technology and its requirements within the industry are examined specifically in terms of process product and organisational adjustments. The resulting developments, particularly the form of intra- and inter- industry linkages are outlined. In addition the form of industry intra-urban linkages are explored with particular reference to the Wellington Region.
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    Restructuring in the New Zealand textile industry : a thesis ... for the degree of Master of Arts in Geography at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1981) Ferretti, Donna Louise
    A structural approach is used to study the socio-economic and spatial implications of restructuring in New Zealand's textile industry. Government policy, specifically the textile plan, is analysed in an attempt to determine the industry's structural response to change in its operating environment. Development of textile manufacturing, as well as market and technological environments effecting change are examined. These reveal contradictions inherent in capitalist production as well as emerging conflicts resulting from changes in production relations within the industry. It is found that changing relationships in product, company, employment, and spatial structures lead to socio-economic inequalities, expressed primarily in the textile industry's core-periphery structure. Government policy appears to have hastened these processes without changing underlying relationships responsible for inequality. Government policy is thus seen to perpetuate the status quo. The analysis suggests the textile industry is increasing its concentration in core areas, thereby altering its traditional dispersed spatial pattern. Policies to alleviate regional inequalities appear to be incompatible with restructuring. The study concludes that capitalist economic growth and social equity policy aims are contradictory, and that inequalities will inevitably widen if government promoted restructuring continues.
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    The potential impact of New Zealand-China free trade agreement on New Zealand's textile, clothing and footwear industries : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Economics at the Department of Applied and International Economics,Massey University
    (Massey University, 2005) Hong, Zuwen
    The New Zealand and Chinese governments are currently negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). The proposed FTA would provide a basis for a significant expansion of trade between New Zealand and China. According to the joint feasibility study by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, both countries will gain at the macro level of economic activities. However, the potential impact on specific industries will be different. Textiles, clothing and footwear industries in New Zealand have undergone significant contraction since the country's trade liberalisation and reduction in protection in the mid-1980s. More recently, these industries in New Zealand have achieved dramatic restructuring and rationalisation in the process of adopting trade liberalisation and the reduction in protection. Nevertheless, the industries are the few that still have relatively highly tariffs in New Zealand. Given the outstanding performance of China's textiles, clothing and footwear industries, the future of the textiles, clothing and footwear industries in New Zealand would be hard to predict. This thesis examines the potential impact of the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between New Zealand and China on the textiles, clothing and footwear industries in New Zealand. A survey method was used for the purpose of this study. Firstly, the recent performance of the textiles, clothing and footwear industries in New Zealand and China and the two way trade between the two nations were analysed in detail to provide the basis for the assessment of the potential impacts under the context of the proposed FTA. Next, to examine such potential impact directly, a sample of 15 textiles, clothing and footwear firms currently operating in New Zealand was selected. Qualitative information, including threats, opportunities and firms' response strategies arising from a NZ-China FTA, was obtained through interviewing each firm's senior executives. The results of this study show that New Zealand's trade liberalisation since the mid-1980s has yielded a substantially more competitive and productive industry base. Trade liberalisation and reduction in protection since the mid-1980s has forced many textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) firms to exit the industry, so the survivors are all relatively strong players in their respective niche markets. However, a further contracting of the industries in terms of manufacturing capability will be inevitable in the environment of a free trade deal with China, given the rapidity of China in expanding its production and lowering its prices and the intrinsic disadvantage of TCF industries in New Zealand. The employment in TCF manufacturing will further decline. The bilateral free trade with China would further reinforce the need for New Zealand TCF industries to continue to restructure and to move into design-based, high-end merchandise with a niche market focus. The findings of this study highlight two directions of future TCF industries in the context of an FTA with China: firstly, the future of New Zealand TCF industries will be one in which changes will be driven by design talent, technology and speed to market. Secondly, another possible way out for New Zealand TCF industries lies in the management of markets, organizing a global supply chain of subcontractors and in retailing.