The cost and excuse of living in a long, lean and small country

How does NZ’s geography contribute to grocery costs? (Image: NZME)

Wed, 02 Apr 2025

When it comes to the role New Zealand’s geography plays in the high prices NZ pays at the supermarket, even the supermarket duopoly disagrees with itself.In its market study, ComCom noted Foodstuffs South Island had submitted that NZ’s low density and population size affected the returns that could be made on supermarkets, while on the other hand, Foodstuffs North Island and Woolworths had said geography and size did not make a material difference to whether new entrants were able to enter the market.The commission decided size and...

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