logo
Petdirect Secures Exclusive NZ Rights to Global Pet Brand M-PETS

Petdirect Secures Exclusive NZ Rights to Global Pet Brand M-PETS

Scoop01-05-2025
Press Release – Petdirect
While some M-PETS products may have trickled into the New Zealand market in the past, Petdirect now holds exclusive rights to the brand, giving Kiwi pet parents access to a growing range that has never before been locally available to New Zealanders.
Auckland, New Zealand – Petdirect, New Zealand's leading Kiwi-owned pet retailer, is proud to announce the exclusive launch of M-PETS, a globally recognised brand of high-quality, design-led pet essentials. Already available in over 70 countries, M-PETS is now officially and exclusively distributed in New Zealand by Petdirect, with a curated range of over 100 everyday products for cats and dogs and more coming soon.
While some M-PETS products may have trickled into the New Zealand market in the past, Petdirect now holds exclusive rights to the brand, giving Kiwi pet parents access to a growing range that has never before been locally available to New Zealanders.
'We've secured exclusive distribution of the M-Pets range in New Zealand, and we're offering a curated selection of great value, quality items, and we're planning to add more quickly.' says Dean Kippenberger, Head of Merchandise at Petdirect.
The M-PETS range, now available exclusively at Petdirect, features durable and stylish beds and grooming tools in multiple sizes, high-quality toys that support stimulation and enrichment, as well as functional and aesthetically pleasing feeding, travel and hygiene products.
Thoughtfully designed, every product combines quality, safety and modern aesthetics – without the premium price tag.
'Some retailers may have stocked a few M-PETS product in the past, but no one has offered the width of range and invested in stock as we have,' states Kippenberger. 'By owning the range locally, we're able to deliver better value, greater consistency and a much broader assortment than ever seen in NZ.'
The launch comes as new insights from Petdirect's 2024 Pet Census highlight just how much Kiwis are investing in their pets. Over a third of pet owners report spending more than $2000 a year, and many admit it's more than they expected. Nearly four in ten say their pet costs exceed what they'd originally budgeted for, while others have adjusted their household spending to accommodate their furry family members .
'This is part of a wider strategy to rethink how Kiwis shop for their pets,' adds Kippenberger. 'We're focused on building a suite of exclusive quality brands that meet real needs – with great prices, quality and customer service. M-PETS sets the tone, and we're only getting started.'
M-PETS is just the beginning. Petdirect is set to expand its portfolio of exclusive homebrands in 2025, reinforcing its commitment to offering smarter, higher-value options for New Zealand pet families.
About Petdirect
Petdirect is the largest New Zealand-owned pet supply store, offering an extensive range of high-quality products, expert advice, and pet medication services. Founded in 2020, Petdirect has quickly become a trusted name in pet care, dedicated to making it easy for Kiwis to provide the best for their furry friends.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Govt on next steps to replacing fuel tax with road user charges
Govt on next steps to replacing fuel tax with road user charges

1News

timean hour ago

  • 1News

Govt on next steps to replacing fuel tax with road user charges

Cabinet has agreed on a set of changes as it looks to roll out electronic road user charges to all light vehicles as it seeks to replace petrol tax. A replacement of fuel excise taxes in favour of electronic road user charging is part of National's coalition agreement with ACT. Currently New Zealanders help pay for the roads via their vehicle licence (or 'rego') fee, road user charges (RUC) and the petrol excise duty (PED). Minister of Transport Chris Bishop said the transition will ensure all vehicles pay based on actual road use (including weight) regardless of fuel type. "Right now, New Zealanders pay Fuel Excise Duty (FED, or petrol tax) of about 70c per litre of petrol every time they fill up at the pump with a petrol car. ADVERTISEMENT "Diesel, electric, and heavy vehicles pay road user charges based on distance travelled." Bishop said as hybrid and petrol efficient vehicles become more common, the way New Zealand funds its roads needed to change. He said in 2015, there were 12,000 hybrid vehicles in the country, whereas now, there are over 350,000. "For decades, petrol tax has acted as a rough proxy for road use, but the relationship between petrol consumption and road usage is fast breaking down. Minister of Transport Chris Bishop. (Source: Q and A) "For example, petrol vehicles with better fuel economy contribute less FED per kilometre towards road maintenance, operations, and improvements. "As our vehicle fleet changes, so too must the way we fund our roads. It isn't fair to have Kiwis who drive less and who can't afford a fuel-efficient car paying more than people who can afford one and drive more often." ADVERTISEMENT Timeline Bishop said the transition will happen in stages, beginning with legislative and regulatory reform to modernise the current road user charges system and enable private sector innovation. "The current road user charges system is outdated. It's largely paper based, means people have to constantly monitor their odometers, and requires people to buy road user charges in 1000km chunks." Bishop said he expects to pass legislation in 2026, followed by an updated code of practice for road user charge providers and an upgrade in systems for both New Zealand Transport Agency and police. "By 2027, the RUC system will be 'open for business', with third-party providers able to offer innovative payment services and a consistent approval process in place. "At this stage, no date has been set for the full transition of the light vehicle fleet. That's a deliberate choice, as we're focused on getting the system right rather than rushing its rollout." The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, new report into submersible implosion, body found in Auckland park, and mixed injury news for the Warriors. (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT Key legislative changes the Government is progressing include: Removing the requirement to carry or display road user charge licences, allowing for digital records instead. Enabling the use of a broader range of electronic road user charge devices, including those already built into many modern vehicles. Supporting flexible payment models such as post-pay and monthly billing. Separating NZTA's roles as both road user charge regulator and retailer to foster fairer competition. Allowing bundling of other road charges like tolls and time of used based pricing into a single, easy payment. "The changes will support a more user-friendly, technology-enabled RUC system, with multiple retail options available for motorists," Bishop said. "Eventually, paying for RUC should be like paying a power bill online, or a Netflix subscription. Simple and easy." Who currently pays road user charges? Vehicles that weigh more than 3500kg pay RUC. Lighter vehicles also pay RUC if they are powered by diesel, electricity or another fuel that isn't taxed at its source. ADVERTISEMENT Light electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids began paying road user charges last year. EVs that weigh more than 3500kg are still exempt from paying RUC, but will start paying them after December 31, 2025. 'Fairer and more efficient' - Motor Industry Association Motor Industry Association chief executive Aimee Wiley is supportive of the Government's plan, which she said will make for "efficient administration and compliance". "Converting the whole fleet to road user charges will be a major undertaking, and we will gain nothing if we do not make use of the latest technology to manage the system digitally and in real time. It'll make compliance much easier and administration less expensive." She said it is the "correct approach" to determine the technology platform for the new system before deciding the approach and timeframe for the transition. Overall, the association, which represents manufacturers and suppliers of new vehicles to New Zealand, said the move "places all vehicles on the same footing, making the system fairer and more efficient".

Dosh partners with Visa & Pismo to build NZ digital banking
Dosh partners with Visa & Pismo to build NZ digital banking

Techday NZ

timean hour ago

  • Techday NZ

Dosh partners with Visa & Pismo to build NZ digital banking

Dosh has announced a collaboration with Visa and Pismo aimed at developing its digital banking platform in New Zealand. The Auckland-based digital wallet provider, established in 2021, is progressing towards becoming a registered bank and says its partnership with Visa and Pismo will support this next phase of its business. The collaboration is set to allow Dosh to deliver digital banking services with greater speed, security, and scalability to customers throughout New Zealand. Partnership details Dosh will use Pismo's cloud-native core banking and payments platform, which Visa acquired in 2024, to underpin its expanding financial offerings. Currently, the digital wallet serves more than 40,000 accounts, all of which are expected to be migrated to the Pismo platform by May 2026. According to the company, the migration will be seamless with no service disruption for existing users. "Working with Visa and Pismo allows us to move faster and scale with confidence," said Shane Marsh, CEO of Dosh. "As we step into this exciting next chapter, our focus is on offering New Zealanders a modern banking experience that's smart, simple, and puts value back in their pockets. This collaboration is a key step in that journey." Pismo's platform will allow Dosh to consolidate spend, save, and borrow features within a single banking application, giving it the infrastructure required to broaden its digital services and scale its user base over the coming years. Strategic goals Dosh's stated ambition is to become New Zealand's first fully digital, locally owned registered bank, with an application currently underway at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. By leveraging this new partnership, Dosh aims to offer solutions that it says are aligned to the needs and preferences of modern New Zealanders. Anthony Watson, Visa Country Manager for New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, said: "We want Kiwi fintechs to thrive, so we're proud to support Dosh in their mission to bring more innovation and choice to New Zealanders. Their vision aligns closely with Visa's ongoing commitment to digital innovation and financial inclusion." This partnership marks the first client engagement for Pismo in New Zealand. Vishal Dalal, CEO at Pismo, commented: "Dosh is known for delivering a simple and intuitive customer experience. We're excited to help enable that with a modern, scalable platform powering it behind the scenes. We're also proud to welcome Dosh as our first client in New Zealand." Local focus with global technology Dosh highlighted the importance of a local customer focus while leveraging the expertise and technologies of international partners. The collaboration intends to merge global payments infrastructure with local requirements. Marsh said: "Collaborating directly with Visa, a global leader in payments innovation, reinforces our ambition to bring world-class digital banking technology to Kiwis. Together, with Pismo, we're building the foundation for the future of banking in New Zealand." Dosh is positioning its model to streamline costs, adopt new technologies including artificial intelligence, and offer a service described as tailored for New Zealand customers as it seeks regulatory approval to operate as a digital-only bank. Follow us on: Share on:

How the Government is preparing to ditch petrol tax, move all cars to road user charges
How the Government is preparing to ditch petrol tax, move all cars to road user charges

NZ Herald

time3 hours ago

  • NZ Herald

How the Government is preparing to ditch petrol tax, move all cars to road user charges

This includes: Removing the requirement to carry or display RUC licences, allowing for digital records instead. Enabling the use of a broader range of electronic RUC devices, including those already built into many modern vehicles. Supporting flexible payment models such as post-pay and monthly billing. Separating NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi's (NZTA) roles as both RUC regulator and retailer to foster fairer competition. Allowing bundling of other road charges like tolls and time of used based pricing into a single, easy payment. Bishop said the intent is to make paying for RUCs 'user-friendly' and similar to paying a power bill online or a Netflix subscription. Currently, the system is mostly paper-based and drivers have to monitor their odometers to check what distance they have driven. It also requires owners to buy RUCs in 1000km chunks. 'We're not going to shift millions of drivers from a simple system at the pump to queues at retailers. So instead of expanding a clunky government system, we will reform the rules to allow the market to deliver innovative, user-friendly services for drivers. 'A handful of e-RUC companies already do this for about half of our heavy vehicle fleet and there are several companies, both domestic and international, with innovative technology that could make complying with RUC cheaper and easier.' He said the abolition of Fuel Excise Duty, or petrol tax, and the move to all vehicles paying RUCs based on distance and weight 'is the biggest change to how we fund our roading network in 50 years'. 'Right now, New Zealanders pay Fuel Excise Duty [FED] of about 70c per litre of petrol every time they fill up at the pump with a petrol car. Diesel, electric, and heavy vehicles pay Road User Charges based on distance travelled. 'This revenue is funnelled into the National Land Transport Fund, which funds the building of new roads and maintaining our existing ones.' He said the move to all vehicles paying RUCs comes as the relationship between petrol consumption and road usage is 'fast breaking down'. 'For example, petrol vehicles with better fuel economy contribute less FED per kilometre towards road maintenance, operations, and improvements,' Bishop said. 'We are also seeing a fast uptake of fuel-efficient petrol hybrid vehicles. In 2015, there were 12,000 on our roads, while today there are over 350,000. 'As our vehicle fleet changes, so too must the way we fund our roads. It isn't fair to have Kiwis who drive less and who can't afford a fuel-efficient car paying more than people who can afford one and drive more often.' The legislation is expected to pass in 2026 which will then be followed by an updated Code of Practice for RUCs providers. 'We will also engage with the market in 2026 to assess technological solutions and delivery timelines. In parallel, NZTA and police will upgrade their systems to support enforcement in a digital environment,' Bishop said. 'By 2027, the RUC system will be 'open for business', with third-party providers able to offer innovative payment services and a consistent approval process in place. 'At this stage, no date has been set for the full transition of the light vehicle fleet. That's a deliberate choice, as we're focused on getting the system right rather than rushing its rollout.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store