Hi-Tec Sequoia Low

These were a replacement for the Altitude Trek Low, which broke down within months of purchase. Recommended by the NZ Importer/agents for Hi-Tec.
First impression was good:

These shoes were a replacement for Altitude Trek Low, which were totally wrecked after the inner sole broke down within six months. 

The NZ Agents/Importers recommended the Sequoia Low as a replacement, but gave me choice of shoe as the replacement. I took their advice and picked up the new shoes. 

Again, from the box a great fitting shoe, very comfortable with good support on track and trail. After two weeks of wear the heel cup padding and fabric covering had disintegrated. I took them to a shoe repairer and they were fitted with leather inner heel  pieces and repadded with quality foam.

The repairer commented that the old foam was the worst quality he had seen. Two months later on a section hike of the TE Araroa Trail the stitching on one shoe burst apart on the leather toe panel, emergency repair was done with waxed terylene thread. I believe that the original thread used may be cotton as it burns not melts! A month later the soles are wearing badly and the right shoe feels squishy, something wrong I suspect but nothing visible.

I have no confidence in this shoe any more for trekking. A breakdown of the shoe just a few kilometers from the road on a track is a situation that I do not want even if strapped up with duct tape will get me out.

IS HI-TEC CUTTING COSTS BY USING LOW QUALITY MATERIALS?

Yesterday the managing director of Denstock Corp the New Zealand agents for Hi-Tec phoned me and took up my complaints re the two pairs of shoes that I have had in the last nine months months. His apologies were duly noted and a very generous offer of compensation was made which shows that at least in NZ one company is prepared to go the distance with genuine complaints.