Cheap Chinese imports has forced a longstanding Masterton factory to close down.  In September, Sliderite owner Dave Revell bit the bullet and shut his Ngaumutawa Rd business.

He said he was left with little choice.  “Basically most of the things we used to make, a lot of zips and bits and pieces for clothing, well of course most of that comes in already made up from China these days,” Mr Revell said.  “In the early days of course everybody wanted quality, but in the end price rules.  “And like a lot of manufacturing in New Zealand, in the end you just can’t compete.”

He bought the factory 26 years ago, after working there since the 1970s.  About 12 years back Mr Revell employed about 40 staff.  But it was just himself and his three remaining employees affected when the factory doors closed for the final time.

The company started out as Rondo, which was managed by General Plastics, a Petone-based Company which moved to Wairarapa in 1964.

Mr Revell said the New Zealand Government at the time was encouraging manufactures to move out of the Hutt to rural areas.  The Government paid for the move, writing the loan off if the factory stayed for X number of years.  Continue to full article in Wairarapa times Age