Loyal flags made in China

First it was the red socks that caused red faces for Team New Zealand. Now it's the Warehouse's "Loyal" Team New Zealand flags - made in China.

Green MP Mike Ward today revealed the flags, sold for $29.95 each, were made in China. The Warehouse donates $10 to Team New Zealand from each flag sold.

The popular flags are part of the Team New Zealand's "Loyal" advertising campaign promoting key crew who stayed with the team, turning down lucrative contracts with foreign syndicates.

"It's great that everyone is getting together and showing loyalty to our yachties but the fact these promotional flags are made overseas shows an abysmal lack of loyalty to our community," Mr Ward said in a statement.

"They can say that they need the cheaper flags so they can support Team New Zealand but what price is loyalty?"

The argument that New Zealand manufacturers could not produce enough flags at a competitive price did not wash with Mr Ward.

"Green Party investigations located promotional flag makers who confirmed they could adequately supply the flags in the volume and price required," he said.

"The manufacturers we have spoken with all expressed dismay to learn The Warehouse would ignore New Zealand businesses to jump on the Team New Zealand bandwagon."

During the last America's Cup campaign, in 1999, Team New Zealand ran a "lucky" red socks campaign with socks imported from Korea.

About 300,000 pairs of red socks were sold for $9.99 as a fund raiser for the America's Cup defence -- despite New Zealand manufacturers saying they could supply them at a lower cost.

- NZPA