Wednesday, 23 July 2025 11:25

It's all about economics

Written by  Milking It

OPINION: According to media reports, the eye-watering price of butter has prompted Finance Minister Nicola Willis to ask for a 'please explain' from her former employer Fonterra.

Dairy is the country's largest export industry; but recent figured from Stats NZ show domestic butter prices have surged 65% and some people are struggling.

Surely, Willis will understand that global supply problems and high demand for New Zealand's products are driving local prices higher.

About 95% of New Zealand's dairy products are exported, which means the international market determines domestic prices.

It is a double-edged sword, where high prices are good for the country's economy but tough for domestic shoppers.

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OPINION: Finance Minister Nicola Willis could have saved her staff and MBIE time and effort over ‘buttergate’ recently by not playing politics with butter prices in the first place.

Cynical politics

OPINION: There is zero chance that someone who joined Fonterra as a lobbyist, then served as a general manager of Fonterra's nutrient management programme, and sat on the board of Export NZ, a division of lobbyist group Business New Zealand, doesn't understand that local butter (and milk and cheese) prices are set by the international commodity price.

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