GLOBAL JOURNEY HITS NEW ZEALAND

Christchurch Marks the Occasion with New Zealand’s first Fair Trade Fashion Show

Christchurch, 4 August – To celebrate the official introduction to New Zealand of the Fair Trade Organisation (FTO) Mark, New Zealand’s first fair trade fashion parade will see fair trade models strutting their stuff on the catwalk in Christchurch’s City Mall.

The event will commence with a parade led by local primary and secondary students through City Mall from High Street at 12pm followed by the reading of the global journey message, the release of helium balloons, the handover of the banner to Australia (marking Christchurch as the last stop of several Global Journey events in the New Zealand tour) and the final event; the fair trade fashion parade.

The 3m x 3m banner leading the way in the pre-fashion parade march, prominently displays the Mark and signifies the Global Journey that began at the World Social Forum in India in January 2004, and now making its way around the globe.

Christchurch is also playing host to the Asia Pacific regional meeting of the International Fair Trade Association (IFAT) the weekend of Aug 4 – 6 so attending the global journey event will be the Executive Director of IFAT, Stefan Durwael, and other top fair trade executives from around the Asia Pacific. The conference which is being kicked off with the global journey event, is being hosted by Trade Aid.

“The arrival of the global journey to NZ and the launch of the Mark is a great chance to introduce the quality and range of fair trade products now available in New Zealand and the event will be one of colour, quality and conscience” says Michelia Ward, Trade Aid’s communications manager.

The FTO Mark was developed by IFAT and is issued to members who meet the IFAT standards and monitoring system. IFAT's members include Fair Trade marketing organisations across the world and producer associations in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

In New Zealand, Trade Aid is recognised as an official IFAT trading partner and the handover of the banner leading the march on August 4 will be to Oxfam Trading who will continue on the global journey across Australia.

The development of the mark is in response to huge growth in the global fair trade industry. In New Zealand, the Trade Aid shops are reporting a healthy 19% increase in retail sales from 2005 – 2006 in what is generally considered a depressed retail market. In the same period the sale of fair trade green beans imported by Trade Aid and sold to NZ roasters, has more than doubled, meaning most of the big name roasters in NZ now carry a fair trade blend.

“The Mark serves as formal recognition of those FTOs that are abiding by standards set forth by IFAT, said Stefan Durwael, executive director of IFAT.  Now consumers, producers and other organisations can rest assured that they are dealing with registered and recognised FTOs.”

The IFAT standards include: creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers; demonstrating transparency and accountability; developing producers skills; promoting Fair Trade; paying producers a fair price; improving the situation of women; improving working conditions; and protecting the environment.

These standards will be on display on Friday when the models hit the catwalk at 12:30 at the Bridge of Remembrance end of Cashel Mall.

Excellent photo opportunities available, for further information please contact: 
Michelia Ward
Ph: 385 3535/ 0275 850 100
Fax: 03 385 3536
E-mail: michelia.ward@tradeaid.org.nz