No duty on New Zealand goods

Press, 14 December 1977, Page 31

No duty on New Zealand goods

Overseas visitors usually want to take souvenirs of New Zealand home with them as well as the items available at the Duty Free Shop. New Zealand goods, though, are not available in duty free outlets bee cause they are not dutiable anyway. Too often tourists are so busy sightseeing they find little time to shop for souvenirs, so the new duty free complex has included an area on 'its top floor that is devoted to New Zealand products. Now tourists can do all their duty free souvenir shopping under one roof. “The Canterbury Room.” as the New Zealand products area is called, encompasses three individual shops. The Three Paddles is a souvenir and gift shop offering items from all over the country. This establishment, not unknown to New Zealanders, has two outlets in Wellington and one in Auckland. As these- items are not dutiable they may be carried away at the time they are purchased. Many travellers, though, do not want to be bothered car-

ting many articles around, so The Three Paddles will arrange for goods to be posted overseas. Westside International Galleries specializes in landscape and seascape paintings by Christchurch artists, and also carries a selection of early New Zealand prints. Mr Don Parlane, who has been painting seriously for 18 years, runs Westside International Galleries and will sell his paintings there. Mr Parlane established Westside Galleries in Worcester Street five years ago. Other artists who are represented at Westside International Galleries are Michael Finnerty and Beverley Curtis. Both are Christchurch artists specialising in landscapes and miniatures respectively. Mr Parlane moved into the duty free complex because he believes it will save him a lot of advertising and attract more tourists. Of the paintings sold at the main shop, 35 to 40 per cent go overseas, and Mr Parlane estimates that only a small percentage of

his customers are tourists. Being under the same roof as the Duty Free Shop he expects to attract many more overseas visitors. Mr Par Jane tries to keep down the prices of the paintings he sells. A framed 36in by 24in landscape, for instance, sells at about $BO. Miniatures start at $6.50. The hide Shop is the third retail outlet in the “Canterbury Room.” The main branch of this establishment is on the corner of Gloucester and Colombo Streets, just across the road from the Duty Free 'Shop. The Hide Shop also has another branch in New Brighton and its own manufacturing company in Christchurch. T h .e Hide Shop

specialises in sheepskin products, but also offers a comprehensive line of fur goods, including articles in opossum and rabbit skins and leather and suede. Although their main shop is only on the other side of the street from the Duty Free shop, Mr David McAlister, j of the Hide Shop, believes that the one-stop-shopping nature of the new complex will bring them many customers they would not otherwise attract. Unlike the Duty Free Shop, the “Canterbury Room” shops do accept New Zealand currency and customers can take their purchases with them. Also, anyone is eligible to buy in the “Canterbury Room” not just overseas travellers.