ZB ZB
Opinion
Live now
Start time
Playing for
End time
Listen live
Listen to NAME OF STATION
Up next
Listen live on
ZB

John MacDonald: Food prices are one thing we can't blame on politicians

Author
John MacDonald,
Publish Date
Wed, 18 Mar 2026, 12:43pm
Photo / File
Photo / File

John MacDonald: Food prices are one thing we can't blame on politicians

Author
John MacDonald,
Publish Date
Wed, 18 Mar 2026, 12:43pm

There’s no doubt the Government has failed us on food prices. 

But then, it was always going to. In fact, any politician who says they’re going to bring food prices down is dreaming. 

This election year, if you hear any of them saying they’re going to get on top of the costs of living and you’ll be paying less at the supermarket if you vote for them, just block your ears.  

Tell them to go and talk to some other mug because you know it’s impossible and they’ll never do it. 

And this is not me having a go at any particular political party or any particular political ideology. 

Remember last election, we had Labour trying to push the idea of no GSTon fruit and veggies? 

Grant Robertson had always been against it but, obviously, realised Labour was pushing it uphill, and he just went along with it because he thought there might be enough clowns who would fall for it. 

I didn’t. I saw it for what it was. Because prices for things still go up whether or not there are taxes. 

That was Labour‘s big idea last election and we’re yet to see anything meaningful from them this time around. That’s because politicians can do very little when it comes to food prices. 

If you’ve been at the supermarket and thought the price of mince is a bit steep, you’d be right. 

In the past year, mince has gone up 23.2 percent. The largest increase on record. 

Fruit and vegetable prices are up too, by nearly 10 percent. 

Now, granted, there have been some decreases month-on-month, but that doesn’t change the fact that, compared to this time last year, we are paying way more for food. 

Nicola Willis talked a big game on food prices. She was going to crack down on the supermarkets. She was going to bring prices down. 

She hauled the Fonterra boss into her office to talk about the price of butter. It was all grand gestures with very little to show for it. 

But that’s not Nicola Willis’ fault. Just like she wouldn’t be able to take the credit if prices went down. 

And it’s not Nicola Willis’ fault or the fault of anyone in the current government because, when it comes down to it, politicians don’t and can’t bring food prices down. 

If you want to point the finger at anyone, point it at the people who believe politicians when they say they can. 

LISTEN ABOVE

Take your Radio, Podcasts and Music with you