Panasonic New Zealand is part of Panasonic Corporation, the world's largest electronics producer. The Corporation, known as the Matsushita Group until October 2008, traces its origins back to 1918, when Japanese industrialist Konosuke Matsushita, aged 23, started a small business manufacturing home electrical products in Osaka, Japan. Matsushita first entered the New Zealand market in 1962, supplying refrigerator parts to Fisher & Paykel. In 1971 a sales agreement between Matsushita and Fisher & Paykel saw the introduction of National and Panasonic electronic products to the New Zealand market. In 1987 all National brand products were rebranded Panasonic. A unique premise shapes Panasonic’s managerial thinking – initially developed by Matsushita. Since an enterprise uses society's resources such as its people, capital, land and services, it should serve society in return. Therefore, the role of a business should be to serve society in return for use of its resources. Panasonic serves society through technology and products that enhance people's lives. It has kept this commitment to society for over 80 years. At the forefront of rapidly evolving digital and networking technologies, Panasonic is helping its customers to participate in an intelligent, information-oriented society. We value the trust our New Zealand customers have in us and look forward to sharing an even better, brighter future in the years to come.