Pacific Brands defends sponsorship

Clothing manufacturer Pacific Brands has defended its sponsorship of the Melbourne Fashion Festival as it axes jobs here and in Australia.

Last week Pacific Brands announced it is closing its Christchurch factory, and will close its Palmerston North business if it can not be sold. Nearly 100 jobs could be lost here.

A company spokesman says sponsoring the Melbourne Fashion Festival is an essential part of their support for the industry and for its own business which still employs 7,000 workers. The spokesman also claims the sponsorship amount is closer to $100,000 rather than the $500,000 which was initially reported.

- Newstalk ZB