CHCH UGG BOOTS HOT-FOOT IT TO US

Ugg boots -- originally designed to warm the tootsies of chilly Australian surfers -- are experiencing a renaissance after being seen on some of the most famous feet in the world. Celebrity screen queens Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz and Kate Hudson have been snapped wearing them in their various incarnations.
Canterbury Leather International is airfreighting 10,000 pairs of the Christchurch-made boots to its distributor to meet anticipated demand.
Douglas Price, managing director, said after Oprah featured the Ugg boots about four years ago shoppers headed down to Nordstrom's and immediately bought all the stock. This time, retailers will be prepared.
The 30-year-old business had been making Uggs for nearly 18 years and orders were now at a new high, he said.
"They are going brilliantly well."
Mr Price said the company was managing to hold its own against products from other countries -- mostly because of the skills staff had accrued.
"We are facing strong competition from Third World countries like China," he said.
Despite the upswing, Mr Price said all exporters were being squeezed by the rampant Kiwi dollar which reinforced the vulnerability of New Zealand businesses to exchange rates.