The New Zealand textile industry is likely to die within two years due to the increasing preference for using offshore production.

Jobs in textile, clothing and footwear have plunged from 47,000 to just 9500 in a span of 40 years upto 2016 and factories are being priced out of the market by cheaper overseas suppliers.

Each year more and more government departments taking all their uniforms, clothing and safety equipment offshore to be manufactured as New Zealand manufacturers aren't as competitive as those in the Far East.

Statistics from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment showed that in 2009, the export value of tapestries, trimmings and embroidery was $5million, while its value in 2017 was just $2million.