Latest news with #Norsewear
NZ Herald
19 hours ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
Wool: Kiwi companies team up to lead sustainable initiative for better returns
Two Kiwi companies are joining forces in a push to back New Zealand wool producers. PGG Wrightson and Norsewear say they are leading an initiative to grow the consumer brand value of ethically and sustainably produced New Zealand wool and boost returns for woolgrowers and the sector. PGG Wrightson chief
NZ Herald
21-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Norsewear secures NZ Defence Force sock deal over international competitors
These machines, worth about $70,000 each, are a key reason Norsewear 's won a contract to supply socks to the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). 'It's the way of the future. If you don't invest in the plant well, then you end up going backwards,' sock technician Terence Ahern said. 'To be honest, we wouldn't have kept up with demand with the Army, and that if we hadn't invested.' He's worked at Norsewear for 47 years and has been through its many ups and downs, including two receiverships. But from this month, the factory will make thousands of socks for the New Zealand Defence Force, Navy and Air Force, increasing manufacturing output by up to 10%. Ahern told RNZ that securing this deal was a real highlight, as the socks were put to the test by hundreds of soldiers. 'They've been through rigorous testing, and to win that over a few other companies is quite a feather in our cap here for Norsewear and the Norsewood village,' he said. 'We can go out and boast a bit that we achieved that.' Norsewear has been operating for over 60 years and employs about 20 locals, which means a team member from about two-thirds of local families. 'It's security for everyone here when you pick up a contract like that,' Ahern said. 'It's great work going forward and knowing the knitting machines will be running.' The factory is one of the larger employers in the rural area and has hired two more locals to keep up with the workload, which site lead Sarena Montgomery is thrilled about. 'It is a very big deal to win something like this; it just gives us the confidence that we are heading in the right direction,' she said. 'Talking to people outside the factory, there is that sense of pride that Norsewear is doing well, and it's really good for the community.' The NZDF socks had previously been supplied by the US, but by using the Lonati machines, local manufacturing expertise and high-quality New Zealand merino wool, Norsewear outperformed every other company bidding for the contract. 'We've competed with what's arguably the best US sock manufacturer in the world, for arguably the most technically demanding socks that you ever have to make, and we beat them based on performance,' Norsewear owner Tim Deane said. 'So that's been a huge confidence boost for the team and it proves you can be a world beater as a small NZ manufacturing company in the middle of regional NZ ... we can take on the world and win.' The NZDF socks cost less than those previously bought from the US and the wool they are using can be traced back to the New Zealand farm it came from. 'That means the Kiwi military gets great socks, NZDF gets more flexibility on supply, along with clarity of the whole supply chain, and we buy more wool from New Zealand farmers to fulfil the contract,' Deane said. A variety of socks are being made for the NZDF to suit different climates, but Deane said they have similar features in that they can help with temperature control, to ward off bacteria and are odour-resistant. One of Norsewear's new hires, as a result of the deal, is Jack Martin from Ormondville. 'It's good, good fun, good community. Everyone is friendly and super happy, very welcoming and a lot of fun,' he said. 'Generally, the main job I have is making sure there are no faults in the socks, as it's quite often you can have a bit of simple error in the machines.' Over 60 machines line the factory floor making socks, hats and gloves, from the latest Italian Lonatis to the lovingly-kept hat machine that's been in action at Norsewear since 1970. 'This machine will keep ticking those over for hopefully the next 50 years,' Ahern said. 'There are no electronics, completely mechanical, it's just got a motor, a couple of chains and a drum. 'It was here well and truly before I got here and was making hats, basically the same as what it's making today.' But it's the sock sector that Norsewear specialises in, churning out up to 10,000 pairs of socks every week, from bed socks to dress socks, work socks and farm socks. 'So there's variety right through the factory,' Montgomery said. 'They design the socks on programmes on the computers and bring [that] in here, download it all and set it all up. 'Every sock has different feeders that give it its shape and pattern.'
RNZ News
20-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Rural Hawke's Bay village buzzing over Norsewear winning Defence Force sock contract
Sock technician Terence Ahern. Photo: RNZ / Alexa Cook A small rural village in Hawke's Bay is buzzing over its sock factory Norsewear winning a huge contract to make all of the New Zealand Defence Force's socks. The Norsewood- based factory beat a number of serious international competitors to secure the deal - including a top tier American sock manufacturer that supplies the US Army. Inside the Norsewear factory over 60 different machines sit in rows, whirring away busily making socks, hats and gloves. Two brand new 'Lonati' machines from Italy are on the far side of the factory floor, a roll of khaki coloured merino yarn merrily spinning around as a sock begins to take shape. These machines, worth about $70,000 NZD each, are a key reason Norsewear's won a contract to supply socks to the NZDF. "It's the way of the future. If you don't invest in the plant well then you end up going backwards. "To be honest we wouldn't have kept up with demand with the army and that if we hadn't invested," said sock technician Terence Ahern. One of two brand new 'Lonati' machines from Italy. Photo: RNZ / Alexa Cook He's worked at Norsewear for 47 years, and has been through its many ups and downs - including two recieverships. But from this month the factory will make thousands of socks for the New Zealand Defence Force, Navy and Air Force, increasing manufacturing output by up to 10 percent. Ahern told RNZ that securing this deal is a real highlight, as the socks were put to the test by hundreds of soldiers. "They've been through rigorous testing and to win that over a few other companies is quite a feather in our cap here for Norsewear and the Norsewood village. "We can go out and boast a bit that we achieved that," he said. Norsewear has been operating for over 60 years and employs about 20 locals, which is a team member from about two thirds of local families. "It's security for everyone here when you pick up a contract like that. It's great work going forward and knowing the knitting machines will be running," said Ahern. The factory is one of the larger employers in the rural area and has hired two more locals to keep up with the workload, which site lead Sarena Montgomery is thrilled about. Site lead Sarena Montgomery. Photo: RNZ / Alexa Cook "It is a very big deal to win something like this, it just gives us the confidence that we are heading in the right direction. "Talking to people outside the factory there is that sense of pride that Norsewear is doing well and it's really good for the community," she said. The NZDF socks had previously been supplied by the US, but by using the Lonati machines, local manufacturing expertise and a high quality New Zealand merino wool, Norsewear out-performed every other company bidding for the contract. "We've competed with what's arguably the best US sock manufacturer in the world, for arguably the most technically demanding socks that you ever have to make and we beat them based on performance. "So that's been a huge confidence boost for the team and it proves you can be a world beater as a small NZ manufacturing company in the middle of regional NZ ... we can take on the world and win," said Norsewear owner Tim Deane. Norsewear owner Tim Deane believes securing the NZDF contract will spotlight New Zealand's talented factories. Photo: Supplied / Norsewear The NZDF socks cost less than those previously bought from the USA and the wool they are using can be traced back to the New Zealand farm it came from. "That means the Kiwi military gets great socks, NZDF gets more flexibility on supply along with clarity of the whole supply chain and we buy more wool from New Zealand farmers to fulfil the contract," said Deane. A variety of socks are being made for the NZDF to suit different climates, but Deane said they have similar features in that they can help with temperature control, to ward off bacteria and are odor resistant. One of Norsewear's new hires as a result of the deal, is Jack Martin from Ormondville . "It's good, good fun, good community. Everyone is friendly and super happy, very welcoming and a lot of fun. "Generally the main job I have is making sure there are no faults in the socks, as it's quite often you can have a bit of simple error in the machines," he said. New hire Jack Martin. Photo: RNZ / Alexa Cook Over 60 machines line the factory floor making socks, hats and gloves, from the latest Italian Lonatis to the lovingly-kept hat machine that's been in action at Norsewear since 1970. "This machine will keep ticking those over for hopefully the next 50 years. There are no electronics, completely mechanical it's just got a motor a couple of chains and a drum. "It was here well and truly before I got here and was making hats, basically the same as what it's making today," said Ahern. The Norsewear factory. Photo: RNZ / Alexa Cook But it's the sock sector that Norsewear specialises in, churning out up to 10,000 pairs of socks every week from bed socks to dress socks, work socks and farm socks. "So there's variety right through the factory. They design the socks on programmes on the computers and bring [that] in here, download it all and set it all up. "Every sock has different feeders that give it its shape and pattern," said Montgomery. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
18-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
NZDF staff to wear locally made socks
From this month on, our defence force staff will standing to attention with locally made socks on their feet. That's because The New Zealand Defence Force has struck a deal with Hawke's Bay apparel company Norsewear . The socks were previously brought in from the United States. Norsewear owner Tim Deane says it's also a real boost for his close-knit team of sock engineers based in the small Hawke's Bay town of Norsewood - population of just 150. Tim says the socks have been through "rigorous" testing involving real soldiers, sailors and pilots and are made using certified traceable fibre from Norsewear's farm partners. Norsewear owner Tim Deane joins Kathryn. Photo: Norsewear
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Win For Kiwi Wool As New Zealand Defence Force Chooses Norsewear
Norsewear - Latest News [Page 1] Company owner Tim Deane says it's a win for both New Zealand wool and local manufacturing, and a huge boost to the team at the heritage Kiwi business. More >> Norsewear Celebrates SOCKTOBER In Support Of Auckland City Mission Monday, 30 September 2024, 11:22 am | Norsewear Tim Deane, owner of heritage woollen apparel business Norsewear, saw a need and this month, he'll help fill it by celebrating Socktober – a buy one, donate one scheme he's running via the Norsewear website throughout the month of October. More >> Million Dollar China Deal 48 Hours After FTA Tuesday, 15 April 2008, 11:08 am | Norsewear New Zealand apparel company Norsewear is one of the first to benefit from the recently signed free trade agreement with China – securing an order worth close to a million dollars in less than 48 hours after the historic deal was signed. More >> Norsewear confirms details of sales Friday, 5 October 2007, 2:16 pm | Norsewear Norsewear today confirmed that the Norsewear brand has been sold to New Zealand clothing company Apparel Brands which has confirmed it will continue to make its world famous socks in New Zealand. More >> Norsewear And Swazi Shop Opens In Wellington Sunday, 18 March 2007, 3:20 pm | Norsewear Norsewear Chief Executive Robert Linterman says that the opening of a new joint venture Norsewear and Swazi store in central Wellington tomorrow is an example of the country coming to the town. More >> Norsewear Welcomes Buy Kiwi Made Marketing Campaig Monday, 12 March 2007, 11:05 am | Norsewear Norsewear Chief Executive Robert Linterman has welcomed the Government's announcement of a $6.3m marketing campaign for Buy Kiwi Made and defended it against recent criticism. More >> Norsewear Welcomes Buy Kiwi Made Funding Programme Thursday, 21 December 2006, 1:46 pm | Norsewear Norsewear Chief Executive Robert Linterman is welcoming the opening of the initial funding round for the contestable $3 million Buy Kiwi Made Regional and Sector Initiatives Fund. More >> 'Movember' at Norsewear – 100% New Zealand Made Mo Friday, 1 December 2006, 10:27 am | Norsewear As the month formerly known as November draws to a close, Norsewear Chief Executive Robert Linterman says the iconic New Zealand manufacturer will be donating a dollar a day for each of the male staff members who took part in the 'Movember' charity ... More >> 'Movember' at Norsewear – All for a Good Cause Wednesday, 15 November 2006, 11:04 am | Norsewear Iconic New Zealand manufacturer Norsewear is supporting a moustache growing charity event to raise money for men's health in New Zealand, says Chief Executive Robert Linterman. More >> Norsewear Welcomes Buy NZ Made Decision Tuesday, 10 October 2006, 11:06 am | Norsewear Norsewear CEO Robert Linterman has welcomed the Government's announcement that the Buy New Zealand Made and Buy Kiwi Made brands will be reserved for products actually made here. More >> New Store Proud to Be New Zealand Made - Norsewear Monday, 2 October 2006, 9:40 am | Norsewear There is a new retail store opening in Otaki over Labour weekend that is proud to stock only true New Zealand Made products, says Norsewear CEO Robert Linterman. 'The new store will be selling products from genuine New Zealand manufacturers – mainly ... More >> Manufacturers Working Hard in Trying Conditions Monday, 18 September 2006, 9:39 am | Norsewear The latest survey of manufacturing activity in New Zealand shows that local manufacturers are working hard in a difficult environment, says Norsewear CEO Robert Linterman. 'These businesses have made the decision to stay in New Zealand, make their products ... More >> A Way Forward For 'Buy NZ Made' - Norsewear Friday, 18 August 2006, 11:08 am | Norsewear The Government is being urged by Norsewear CEO Robert Linterman to consider developing a new and separate brand to promote New Zealand services and goods manufactured off-shore in order to protect the integrity of the 'Buy New Zealand Made' campaign. More >> "Buy Kiwi Made" Should Not Be Undermined Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 11:03 am | Norsewear Norsewear New Zealand is warning that the value of both the 'Buy New Zealand Made and 'Buy Kiwi Made campaigns will be undermined if products not made in New Zealand are included. More >>
