FOOD PRICES MAKE THE NEWS – AGAIN. CROSS PARTY ACTION NEEDED

Nadine Tunley : HortNZ chief executive

Food prices have been in the news again since Statistics New Zealand’s release of the February 2023 food price index.

Statistics New Zealand headlined its media release with “12 percent annual increase in food prices highest since September 1989,” noting that “fruit and vegetable prices increased by 23 percent”.

Once again, the increase in fruit and vegetable prices got the media’s attention. But the industry was ready, outlining the impact of adverse weather on supply and suggesting that the public should support domestic growers by continuing to buy fresh, locally grown and healthy fruit and vegetables.

Government policy makers and decision makers need to come together quickly

Cyclone Gabrielle and other adverse weather events since early October last year (when unseasonal frosts wiped out some kiwifruit growers) have highlighted New Zealand’s vulnerability when it comes to food security and supply. We just can’t assume any longer that ‘she’ll be right’ when it comes to primary production in this country.

While the focus post Cyclone Gabrielle has been on the clean-up and grower support and wellbeing, industry experts, government policy makers and decision makers need to come together quickly to develop an approach to food security and supply in New Zealand. This approach needs to inform the reform of the Resource Management Act, which at the moment, does not prioritise food security and supply.

The Labour Government under new Prime Minister, Chris Hipkins, is making directional policy changes to appeal to ‘middle New Zealand’. While there’s no real definition for ‘middle New Zealand’, I would say they used to be the people who didn’t worry too much about the price of food. But that the number of middle New Zealanders is decreasing.

12 PERCENT ANNUAL INCREASE IN FOOD PRICES

Members of Parliament from across all political parties are worried about the cost of living and its impact on increasing numbers of New Zealanders. At the same time, increasing numbers of New Zealanders are concerned about their society, health and education metrics that are going in the wrong direction, and the impact of the increasing number of adverse weather events on people’s lives and livelihoods.

New Zealand is not known for its strategic direction and planning. Sometimes this is blamed on our comparatively short, three-year government term. It would be a pity if, in the scramble to win the next election, New Zealand’s longterm prosperity and societal wellbeing became a political football, when increasing numbers of New Zealanders are under extreme pressure, due to the impact of the weather and/or the impact of unescapable inflation, as evidenced by the food price index.

With good planning and clear outcomes, New Zealand can adapt

Our industry’s message to politicians – current and aspiring – is to engage with us and listen to the solutions that we have. Our industry’s track record of innovation, growth and environmental stewardship is right up there on the international stage.

Just as we’ve said before, with good planning, New Zealand can have houses and food. With good planning and clear outcomes, New Zealand can adapt to climate change, have enough healthy food for all, and the kind of safe, inclusive society that we all want.