The brand builds trust through assurance of quality and consistency, and according to their website:
Not all products that are made in New Zealand choose to go through the required accreditation process to get the 'Kiwi in a Triangle' label on their product. In fact, it might be a fairly small proportion of manufacturers and producers. There are now a number of options for NZ businesses to establish their credentials and reputation both locally and internationally that didn't exist in 1988, and some folks might believe that the whole 'NZ brand' concept is out of date or even compromised, especially if it talks 'Clean and Green'. It's hard to talk about 100% Pure when the evidence - our water ways - is becoming less and less congruent with that statement!
The onset of the Global pandemic and squeeze on energy prices is forcing the supply chain reconfiguration. Significant and ever increasing scrutiny is applied to:
This means that organisations and policy-makers are having to re-think what we have taken for granted for so long... a cheap just-in-time supply of high quality goods at competitive prices. The scramble is on to work out what the new world looks like and how to prosper in that future.
The emerging reality near you
There are signs that, growing, processing, and making things locally or close to where they are consumed is likely to become an increasingly important part of life. Some believe it will be our only option should fossil fuel prices rise dramatically and other supply constraints emerge over time. This will have consequences for local labour, skills, machinery, distribution and retailing.
Building back better
The new roads, bridges, tunnels, office blocks or the slick marketing and advertising campaigns that are eating the future at a rate of trillions of dollars per year globally, are not materially adding to the resilience of the environment, your community or your life. They are part of the overshoot in production and consumption that needs to be unwound.
When it comes to guaranteeing supplies of essential goods and services, including food, water, clothing, footwear, and the rail network and waste water systems near you, we say "bring it on" and spread it around the country.
The need for a dramatic increase in the resilience of our basic and essential supplies and services is crucial. Products that are designed and made to last use less resources through their lifetime, create less waste and that require a service and repair industry that employs real people are far more circular and sustainable in nature. With today's technology it is possible to provision goods with very long lifespans, almost perpetual.
As far as the claim of poor quality, many would argue NZ is capable of and is already competitive globally for the products it focuses on. And our producers are likely capable of the highest quality, if they choose to put their mind to it and can make a profit doing it.
Such a build of new capabilities and a transition to what was largely in place up until the mid 1980's, (in a previous incarnation) could take many years and would require significant investment. The world seems to be moving in this direction. Are we moving fast enough?
Individual action
As individuals, it is possible to create change through how we vote and how we spend our money. Perhaps we should be asking for more NZ Made? We suggest that much of the population probably already senses this and are prepared to pay a bit more for our national resilience and for future generations...a small price with lots of upside. So, what are we waiting for?
"All of us may have been created equal. But we'll never actually be equal until we all vote."
- Leonardo Di Caprio
Real Transition Leaders Course.
Registrations for the next few courses are going well, a wonderful variety of folks wanting to be part of a leading edge community focused on the Real transition (not the green-washing, fake one).
If you want to know more or register your interest please make contact here. We would love you to join us, whether you are a scientist, farmer, social worker, consultant, policy expert, retired genius, director or corporate leader...or someone in between careers!
Some more feedback from one of our awesome colleagues:
“It was great to be part of this super motivated, cross sector group. I could tell right from the beginning that everyone had been living, thinking, reading and talking about all sorts of ‘Transition’ matters for a long time. I really liked the simple steps presented and that the facilitators left it open for us to talk about the need for learning and community engagement all the way along. It has been a
long time since I worked with such a group and would recommend this course to people interested in the transition to a low carbon and low energy world ”
For groups, there are various options for size, configuration and pricing, lets talk if you want to understand more.
Grant Symons - The Transition Guy
