The Decline and Survival of New Zealand's Local Shoe Manufacturing Industry
New Zealand's domestic footwear industry has drastically declined, shifting from producing 95% of the nation's shoes in the late 1980s to less than 5% today. The New Zealand Footwear Industry Association, which once represented 50 members, was dissolved in 2017 due to shrinking membership. While offshore production dominates the market with popular brands like Nike and Adidas, a small number of local manufacturers persist. McKinlays, a fifth-generation family business in Dunedin, remains the largest producer, specializing in school shoes and sourcing leather from the country's last remaining tannery. However, it relies heavily on imported components such as soles and threads. Similarly, bespoke shoemaker Sue Engels operates on Waiheke Island, importing high-quality leather from Italy to create custom footwear. These remaining artisans face significant challenges, particularly in sourcing materials locally, as most components must be imported. Despite the prevalence of casual, synthetic footwear from international retailers, these niche manufacturers demonstrate that local production, though critically endangered, still exists in specialized forms.
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The Decline and Survival of New Zealand's Local Shoe Manufacturing Industry
New Zealand's domestic footwear industry has drastically declined, shifting from producing 95% of the nation's shoes in the late 1980s to less than 5% today. The New Zealand Footwear Industry Association, which once represented 50 members, was dissolved in 2017 due to shrinking membership. While offshore production dominates the market with popular brands like Nike and Adidas, a small number of local manufacturers persist. McKinlays, a fifth-generation family business in Dunedin, remains the largest producer, specializing in school shoes and sourcing leather from the country's last remaining tannery. However, it relies heavily on imported components such as soles and threads. Similarly, bespoke shoemaker Sue Engels operates on Waiheke Island, importing high-quality leather from Italy to create custom footwear. These remaining artisans face significant challenges, particularly in sourcing materials locally, as most components must be imported. Despite the prevalence of casual, synthetic footwear from international retailers, these niche manufacturers demonstrate that local production, though critically endangered, still exists in specialized forms.
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