Insolvency experts from McGrathNicol are urgently searching for buyers for footwear chain Ziera after the retailer fell into voluntary administration, blaming higher rents and manufacturing costs and falling sales.

Founded in 1946 by podiatrists David Robertson and Mervyn Adams and formerly known as Kumfs, Ziera had about 23 stores in Australia and 22 in New Zealand and employed about 250 staff.