TypeAgencyOther NamesRetail and Wholesale Merchants AssociationNZ Retailers' FederationRetail NZ LtdDate Range1921-DescriptionThe NZ Retailers' Federation was founded in 1921 and ended in 1987, being reformed into the incorporated society Retail and Wholesale Merchants Association which rebranded to Retail NZ in 2015.
Originally it comprised only those retailers selling clothing, textiles, and footwear. About in the late 1940s it widened its representation to include drapers, department stores, chain stores, specialty fashion houses, and retailers of men's and boys' wear, household appliances, footwear, crockery and household hardware, and furniture and furnishings.
The federation watched over members' interests, disseminated useful information to retailers and acted as a negotiator and authoritative link between the Government, State Departments, manufacturers, and wholesalers.
In the 1960s the federation was comprised of 15 district associations, all completely autonomous, managed by a council appointed by the associations.
