History Repeating Itself

Just FYI, the Otago Daily Times published a report from 100 years ago on 30 January 2015: http://www.odt.co.nz/opinion/100-years-ago/331484/horror-german-paint.

The first few paragraphs read as follows:
Mr Scollay, speaking at the meeting of the Otago Harbour Board last evening, drew attention to the fact that one of the board's vessels at present in dock at Port Chalmers had been painted with German paint instead of the New Zealand article. (Cries of "Oh.")
Some time ago he had been assured that British paint had superseded that of German manufacture, and he wished to know if that decision had been revoked. If so, by whose authority. There was absolutely no question as to the superiority of New Zealand paint over that which was imported from foreign countries, and the speaker could not understand why the change had been made.
The Chairman (Mr Moller) assured Mr Scollay that a full report would be obtained regarding the matter, which he stated, had been discussed already. Had he known that German paint was being used he would have stopped the work on his own responsibility. At the present time the board's executive officer was making inquiries into the matter.

This just brings to mind what happened in July 2011 – only 4 years ago! Parliament library gets foreign makeover http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/parliament-library-gets-foreign-makeover-4307483

German paint has been used to redecorate a historic Parliament building, to the disgust of an iconic Kiwi company.

The Parliamentary library is being revamped at a cost of $450,000, a sum which Resene said should be going to a local company.

Colin Gooch, a Resene technical director, said his company applied to supply their aquashield paint for the heritage building's makeover.

"We've been in this game quite a long time, and I guess we know a bit about the New Zealand environment.
"[The paint is] more than up to the job!

Absolutely, it's a top of the line product, breathable so water can come out, but it's got a special surface so that water can't go back in."

The Parliamentary Service stipulated the paint had to protect the fragile exterior from Wellington weather.
Resene said aquashield paint withstands New Zealand's harsh ultra-violet sunlight better than German paint developed for German conditions.

The library was painted only 15 years ago with German paint, which Resene said performed very poorly. Resene's paint also costs the same price as its German competitor.

Gooch said he had hoped a New Zealand-made product would have been promoted
But the Parliamentary Service chose a German paint, called Sto.

Labour's finance spokesman David cunliffe said New Zealand needs to take responsibility for helping local businesses.

"It's time we owned our future, that means employ New Zealanders to make products in New Zealand, that cost less, do the same job, and don't send the money offshore."

One Wellingtonian told ONE News she expected the Parliamentary Service to choose a New Zealand product over a foreign product.

"We need to give our own country work instead of sending it to other parts of the world."

ONE News asked the Parliamentary Service if a local paint should have been given preference. They ducked the question, but said their focus was to find the best product at the best price.

So we really don’t learn from the past …