A ‘Latin American Exhibition’ brings an unusual flavour to Worcester St

Press, 30 November 1978, Page 12

A ‘Latin American Exhibition’ brings an unusual flavour to Worcester St

By

JOHN WILSON

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A Christchurch importer has brought, an exotic touch to Worcester Street with a “Latin American Exhibition,” which offers for sale goods made by artisans in Central and South America. This is the first time Mr Tom Mackisack has offered such goods for sale in Christchurch, although he

has staged similar exhibitions in Wellington and Auckland in the last two years.

The goods, mostly ceramics, onyx carvings and woven goods, have come almost entirely from Mexico, although Mr Mackisack and his partner

have contacts in other Latin American countries — Guatemala, Colombia, Bolivia and Ecuador — from which such goods have, or will be, imported into New Zealand. The goods are all imported under the developing countries handicraft licence scheme. This scheme was introduced

earlier this decade to open markets in New Zealand for goods made by artisans in poor countries. The licences have been so far for relatively small amounts.

The budget for the developing countries handicraft scheme for the 1977-78 licensing year was $650,000. In that year 173 companies received licences under the scheme (82 for the first time) to import handicrafts from 49 of the 167 developing countries and territories eligible under the scheme. Each licence is issued for a specific item from a specific country — for example, ceramics from Mexico.

Unlike some other importers who have taken up licences under this scheme, Mr Mackisack has endeavoured to buy goods direct from the artisans rather than working through export houses in developing the countries. In Mexico Mr Mackisack has seen mark-ups of up to 500 to 600 per cent between the artisan producer and the export house. Only one line in

the current exhibition has been bought from a “company”; it apparently had artisans employed to turn out painted, glazed wares primarily for export.

Mr Mackisack believes that more than some New Zealand importers, he is “using” the developing countries’ licence scheme more in the way it was intended. Even so, anybody who is familiar with a South American market will observe that the prices at which the goods are being offered in Christchurch are many time the prices that the artisans themselves receive.

Mr Mackisack attributes this partly to his overheads having the goods packed in Mexico, shipped to New Zealand, insured, cleared through Customs (they attract a reduced duty and sales tax), and establishing temporary retail outlets in New Zealand cities.

He also admits quite candidly that he is in the game of importing handmade goods from Latin America for the profit. But ha does not rely on the profit he makes from the exhibitions in New Zealand for his livelihood. He also owns a manufacturing company in Christchurch. What he values as much as the profit that is in it for him are the opportunities to visit Latin America, and the obvious pleasure and enthusiasm of customers when they find they can purchase in New Zealand unusual times that are not often seen on the shelves of New Zealand shops.

RIGHT: The squatting man (right) is a reproduction in the Teotitochucan style. The tali candleholder in the middle is Guerrero ware. The two smaller items (lower left) are Brunido hand-painted earthenware. BELOW: The seated woman (left) is a reproduction in the Teotitochucan style. The jug in the middle is Bninido hand-painted earthenware; and the smaller jug to the right is stoneware from Tonola.