Cameras cheaper

Press, 20 October 1986, Page 32

Cameras cheaper

The lifting of duty and the removal of sales tax with the introduction of GST have combined to make cameras, film and photographic equipment up to 30 per cent cheaper on some items than they were this time last year. This is the finding of the Photo Marketing Association of New Zealand, which represents the major sectors of the photographic industry. The president of the P.M.A., Mr Alan Patter-son-Kane, said it was clear that photographic prices were at their lowest right now, but prices were already increasing due to the strengthening of the Japanese yen. “Many New Zealanders believe that. photographic equipment is cheaper overseas, and that it is something you only buy duty free in Fiji or Singapore. That is a total misconception. New Zealand prices are now among the cheapest in the South Pacific,” Mr Patter-son-Kane said.

The industry was preparing for a major marketing effort later this year, and the topic would be discussed at the forthcoming P.M.A. National Convention in Rotorua in June.

“We are bringing all elements of the industry together to meet in an open-forum situation to thrash out how best we can promote this advantage, particularly in the tourist sector. We have a competitive scene in New Zealand, and tourists and residents can benefit from this by obtaining top-qual-ity brand equipment at low prices,” he said.