We've seen this TV show before

The US push to reshore consumer electronics manufacturing is doomed to fail. BY PETER GRIFFIN

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Long-time Listener readers may remember a brief era in the 1970s and early 80s when we made televisions and computers here in New Zealand. Prime Minister Robert Muldoon was a fan of highly protectionist economic policy. His National government imposed significant import barriers, including tariffs of up to 40% on computer hardware, and import licensing requirements to shield local industries from overseas competition. It followed the same playbook US President Donald Trump is now reading from, hoping to foster domestic manufacturing.

The protectionist policies led to local assembly and manufacturing operations springing up to make consumer electronics. Companies like Pye NZ Ltd produced television sets in New Zealand, with factories such as the one in Waihi operating into the mid-1980s. The Poly-1 computer, developed for schools, also went into production with state backing in the early 80s.