KEY POINTS:
The perception of the quality of goods imported from China is a low but improving one, according to research by Massey University.
Marketing researchers in the university's College of Business surveyed Auckland-based consumers on their attitudes toward imports from Australia, the United States, Japan, Germany and China.
Consumers' perception of imported products were based on quality, improvement in the products and design. Japanese goods got the top rating for product performance.
Products from China were ranked lowest in overall consumer perceptions. They were considered to have the widest spread in the New Zealand market and to be the most reasonably priced, said senior marketing lecturer Gurvinder Shergill.
Products from Japan and Germany were the most preferred by shoppers, followed by products from the United States and Australia.
When it came to marketing, Australia, Japan and the US were thought to be the best performers while the Chinese were rated as the worst marketers in the New Zealand market, out of the five countries.
The quality of China's exports came under international scrutiny last March after dog and cat deaths in North America were linked to a pet food ingredient made in China.
Concerns grew after potentially dangerous toxins and chemicals were found in products ranging from toothpaste, toys to fish.
- NZPA
