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Shoe manufacturer and exporter Kumfs is laying off 31 of the 114 staff at its Mangere factory as it grapples with the high cost of manufacturing in New Zealand.
The 60-year-old company had explored other options, but despite a 14 per cent increase in sales last year and growing international markets, it had decided on redundancies, said the managingdirector, Andrew Robertson.
"This decision has been driven by the lower cost of production offshore, along with supplier accessibility, combined with the high value of the New Zealand dollar. Over time, the whole supply chain for the footwear industry has shifted to China."
Robertson said Kumfs would offer to help staff find other jobs.
Kumfs sells its shoes through nearly 700 stockists in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the US and Asia.
In the past two months, hundreds of redundancies have been announced at outdoor clothing company Norsewear, Cadbury, chair maker La-Z-Boy, plumbing supplies manufacturer Dux Industries, and printer Wickliffe, and Fisher & Paykel Appliances.
- NZPA
