10 Feb 2014

PM says buy Australasian made

9:59 pm on 10 February 2014

The Prime Minister is encouraging New Zealand and Australian supermarkets to purchase Australasian products, rather than from their own country exclusively.

John Key was in Australia over the weekend, where he met with Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Mr Key says he raised the issue of two of Australia's biggest supermarkets using products for their home brands only from Australian sources.

"It's important to remember these issues aren't simple. New Zealand supermarkets also procure some products exclusively from New Zealand suppliers.

"Overall, I think it's probably useful to think about supermarket procurement in Australasian context, rather than focusing on our own separate economies."

Mr Key says consumers understand that an open economy works well for both countries, so supermarkets should buy Australasian made.