Q & As

MPI currently play a big role in making sure our primary industries do the things we expect them to do… operational stuff like ensuring food is safe to eat, that there are systems in place to ensure animal welfare science is being followed, our biosecurity is being protected and that food businesses are managing risks and operating according to best practices. So far, so good. They also do a lot of work with farmers, fishers and the forestry sector to keep those industries trucking along and developing trade opportunities for them to grow.  

They also have a work programme that looks to the future. That includes things like the Long Term Insights Briefing, which sets out opportunities for NZ’s food sector to 2050. That briefing is very focused on export growth, with no exploration of the role of New Zealanders in supporting our food producers. And, there’s Fit for a Better World, a work program ‘committed to meeting some of the greatest challenges faced today’. But again, this is an export growth strategy, alongside increasing food and fibre sector employment and reducing environmental impact.  Of course we should continue to strive to understand and explore the opportunities for our food to be sought after by the rest of the world.

But when you look at the way the food system impacts all of our daily lives, there are some gaps. This is not MPI’s fault… the way they operate today is the product of  148 years of political decision-making, from their starting point in 1875 as a group of 30 sheep inspectors employed by the Department of Crown Lands. A lot of food system stuff is simply outside of their remit. 

But, as we said above, we don’t think a Ministry of Food is the right way to plug the gaps. Which is why we’re proposing a National Food Strategy conversation as a way of government partnering with the community to get everyone involved in the food system around the table. And MPI will likely play a role in facilitating that conversation. 

What do we mean by gaps? Well, here’s a few ideas to start with… 

How might we secure a reliable supply of delicious, healthy, fairly traded and nutritious food and ensure we can all afford to pay for it?

How might we make best use of the land to create resilient, climate-positive, soil-enhancing and biodiverse New Zealand farming?

How might we support our local horticulture producers to make it easier for everyone to eat more fruit and veggies?

How might we create a food system that means our farmers and food producers are valued and feel proud of the work that they do?

How might we restore the kai sovereignty of mana whenua to assist in the transfer of knowledge and continuation of cultural practices?

How might we rebalance prices, availability and marketing so that nutritious food is an easier choice for everyone?

How might we build a framework for animal welfare and environmental standards for locally grown and imported food alike?

How might we tackle the avalanche of food waste that we create in our production systems, and our kitchens?

This conversation is not going to happen without MPI, but its much bigger than them too. 

The Grocery Commissioner is embedded in the Commerce Commission. Their mandate is restricted to monitoring the business activities of food retailers under the competition, fair trading, consumer credit and economic regulatory responsibilities of the Commerce Commission. 

They don’t have any big picture strategic mandate for the food sector – their focus is the supermarkets, and that is the only place they can have any impact. We believe this kind of narrow focus is not going to have a significant impact on the daily lives of New Zealanders, or improve the opportunities for our farmers.