Jim Anderton: Fashion Week at risk if United, NZF back Nats & ACT

The successful NZ Fashion Week could be threatened if NZ First and United Future help to elect a Don Brash-led government after the next election, Progressive Party leader, Jim Anderton, told a manufacturing summit in Auckland today.

Jim Anderton said government investment that helped to bring Fashion Week into being would be at risk under a National-ACT administration.

"National and ACT are opposed to government partnership with industry. That means they are opposed to the assistance the government gave to getting NZ Fashion Week off the ground."

In his speech to the Manufacturing Summit, Jim Anderton said Fashion Week would not have come to the prominence it has without the government helping to unlock its potential.

"NZ Fashion Week lifted off after the textile, clothing and footwear industry approached me in 2000. It was obvious that New Zealand TCF manufacturing could not compete on cost alone in world markets. The future is in high-value, high-skill industry, based on the creativity of New Zealanders.

"Fashion Week is a way to promote the creative industrial base we need. Industry New Zealand supported the idea of a Fashion Week to showcase our creativity and NZ Trade and Enterprise continues to support NZ Fashion Week. It's an example of how the government can help to facilitate the emergence of high value new industry," the Progressive leader said.

Jim Anderton said NZ First and United Future have admitted they could vote to make Don Brash Prime Minister after the next election.

"Don Brash, Rodney Hide and Richard Prebble will not be forming partnerships with industry that have seen NZTE help to create and sponsor the New Zealand Fashion Week. They would tell our fashion industry it is out there on its own."

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