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Food shock: Prices soar in June as fruit and veges follow butter and cheese spike
New stats show food prices rose 4.6% in the year to June – the largest rate of increase since late 2023.
That was up from a 4.4% increase in the year to May, Stats NZ’s latest Selected Price Indexes show.
Rising prices for fruit and vegetables in June have added to already elevated pricing … View moreNew stats show food prices rose 4.6% in the year to June – the largest rate of increase since late 2023.
That was up from a 4.4% increase in the year to May, Stats NZ’s latest Selected Price Indexes show.
Rising prices for fruit and vegetables in June have added to already elevated pricing for dairy products to push costs higher.
Higher prices for the fruit and vegetables group and the grocery foods group drove the increase in food prices for June 2025, Stats NZ said.
They were up 5% and 0.8% respectively for the month.
“More expensive tomatoes, capsicum, and broccoli drove the increase for fruit and vegetables, while higher prices for boxed chocolates and eggs drove the increase for grocery foods,” Stats NZ said.
Meanwhile, dairy and meat prices remain elevated, reflecting strong export prices on global markets.
“Dairy products continue to drive the higher cost in food prices,” said prices and deflators spokeswoman Nicola Growden.
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The average milk price was $4.57 for 2 litres, up 14.3% annually. Butter was $8.60 per 500g, up 46.5% annually, and cheese was $13.04 for a 1kg block, up 30% annually.
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“Butter prices are nearly five dollars more expensive than 10 years ago, an increase of over 120%,” Growden said.
The increase in the meat, poultry, and fish group was driven by higher prices for beef steak and beef mince, up 22.3% and 15.6%, respectively.
“The average cost for 1kg of beef mince was $21.73 in June 2025, up from $18.80 a year ago,” Growden said.
The increase in food prices was higher than expected, said ASB senior economist Mark Smith.
Meanwhile, rental prices continue to moderate.
Rent prices increased 2.6% in the 12 months to June 2025, following a 2.8% rise in the year to May.
The 2.6% increase is the lowest lift for rent prices since October 2011, when they rose 2.5%, Stats NZ said.
On a monthly basis, rents were flat, rising just 0.1%.
ASB’s Smith is forecasting it to land at an annual rate of 2.8% and rising above 3% in the third quarter.
That would be above the Reserve Bank’s target range of 1-3%. Elevated inflation concerns prompted the RBNZ to pause its cycle of interest rate cuts last week.
But Smith noted that there were good reasons to expect inflation to move lower by the end of the year and into 2026.
Reduced demand due to weak economic conditions should be disinflationary forces for the service sector and other non-tradable parts of the economy.
“We expect a further 25bp OCR cut in August but acknowledge that weak activity data and the downward skew to global risks could see a sub 3% OCR emerge by year-end,” he said.
But this outlook was not without risk, Smith said.
There was a possibility that the uptick in inflation proved to be more persistent than transitory, “providing an unwelcome lift to inflation expectations that central banks have worked arduously to re-anchor post-Covid”.
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Paint it red with Resene for Red Nose Day!
Buy any red testpot 60 mL from your local Resene owned ColorShop between 17 -31 July 2025 and Resene will donate $1 to Cure Kids.
The more red testpots you buy, the more will be donated!
Create a Kid-Approved Swing in Your Favourite Wood Stain
This quick and customisable project is ideal for those without a sturdy tree to hang a swing from, and it’s sure to bring joy to your little ones. Find out how to make and stain your own in your favourite Resene Woodsman wood stain finish with these easy step by step instructions.
Poll: Hi Neighbours! What truly helps you let go of the day and fall asleep?
Kia ora neighbours
We all wind down differently at the end of the day. Some of us drift off to the sound of soft rain, calming music, or a bit of white noise. Others? We need total silence and darkness to truly switch off.
How about you — do you need sound to soothe, or stillness to reset?
… View moreKia ora neighbours
We all wind down differently at the end of the day. Some of us drift off to the sound of soft rain, calming music, or a bit of white noise. Others? We need total silence and darkness to truly switch off.
How about you — do you need sound to soothe, or stillness to reset?
Vote below and feel free to share what works for you. Your go-to bedtime trick might help someone else in the neighbourhood get a better night’s rest too
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48% Still & Silent
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52% Calm & Soothing
Poll: Have you felt the impact of electricity price increases?
Last year, the Commerce Commission announced it had agreed to increase revenue limits to facilitate the maintenance and improvement of the electricity network.
Consumer NZ have revealed their latest annual energy survey, and found that 11% of consumers have had to cut back on their heating, and … View moreLast year, the Commerce Commission announced it had agreed to increase revenue limits to facilitate the maintenance and improvement of the electricity network.
Consumer NZ have revealed their latest annual energy survey, and found that 11% of consumers have had to cut back on their heating, and 20% of people have been struggling to pay their power bill in the past year.
How does your region compare? You can view and compare how the average monthly household use, charges, and bills vary regionally here.
We want to know: Is your household paying more for electricity this year?
Do you have any advice for your community on what changes you have found most effective in keeping costs down in your home or office? Share below!
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80.9% Yes! The increase has hit hard
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14.8% I am managing - we have found some solutions
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4.3% No - have not noticed much change
Retire in comfort and security
Premium care is just meters away from our village. Join our caring community, where passion thrives. Trust Terrace Kennedy House for exceptional care and meaningful connections.
Used Oppo Reno 8 Lite for quick sale
In good working order and near new condition. Text Michael on 0220498546 if interested.
Te Huia Sunday services are ready to launch---Now operating seven days!
After four years of operating New Zealand's newest interregional public transport rail service - originally running only two trips during weekdays - Te Huia will now be travelling seven days per week between Frankton in Hamilton and the Strand in central Auckland!
From Sunday 27 July, new … View moreAfter four years of operating New Zealand's newest interregional public transport rail service - originally running only two trips during weekdays - Te Huia will now be travelling seven days per week between Frankton in Hamilton and the Strand in central Auckland!
From Sunday 27 July, new trip times include a 2:45pm Northbound service to Auckland, and a 6:15pm Southbound service to Hamilton on Sundays.
These exciting service improvements bring Te Huia up to a massive 30 trips per week - that's a total weekly travel distance of over 4,020km! 🤯
With massive thanks to our friends at Kiwirail and Auckland Transport, Te Huia can now access the Auckland Rail Network on Sundays, which we hope will continue to increase travel opportunities and connectivity between the Waikato region and Auckland City.
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POWER
Dear fellow neighbors. My current power company is Power Shop. I left my last power company, FLICK Electric but finding PS too, complicated, and time consuming. Can ANYONE, suggest and help, please. Many thx inadvance. Live in Avondale gazzaaknz@gmail.com or PM 0220357635 Cheers to ALL ALBIE
2 weeks left to enter the Winter Puzzle Comp!
Don’t miss your chance to WIN one of five iPads, valued at $699 each!
Simply grab a copy of your local Stuff newspaper, solve the puzzle, find the prize word, and enter it online at thepost.co.nz/puzzletime.
The more puzzles you complete, the higher your chance to WIN! The competition ends … View moreDon’t miss your chance to WIN one of five iPads, valued at $699 each!
Simply grab a copy of your local Stuff newspaper, solve the puzzle, find the prize word, and enter it online at thepost.co.nz/puzzletime.
The more puzzles you complete, the higher your chance to WIN! The competition ends on 28 July. To find out more about participating newspapers,click here.
The Team at The Post
Floral silver/ grey ready made curtains with matching Sheer Curtains
Almost brand new in very good condition, ready made block out curtains and Mykonos sheer curtains 260 mm in Width and x 200mm length.
Mykonos Readymade Sheer Pencil Pleat Curtain , A beautiful linen-look sheer that will look stunning in any home. The soft subtle stripes in a blend of neutral … View moreAlmost brand new in very good condition, ready made block out curtains and Mykonos sheer curtains 260 mm in Width and x 200mm length.
Mykonos Readymade Sheer Pencil Pleat Curtain , A beautiful linen-look sheer that will look stunning in any home. The soft subtle stripes in a blend of neutral tones create a contemporary, natural finish. Beautiful sheer curtains with subtle beige, white and grey colours that gives a luxurious appeal. Hooks Included.
Hang on its own OR with an attachable lining OR with a lining curtain on a double track.
Pick up-Westmere, Auckland
Meditation: Toolkit For Calm
Inner peace, simplicity and happiness have always been there inside us, qualities of our heart and soul that are often hidden and lost beneath the busy
complexities of our mind. This free six-evening course covers the essential techniques in learning and mastering meditation, rediscovering the … View moreInner peace, simplicity and happiness have always been there inside us, qualities of our heart and soul that are often hidden and lost beneath the busy
complexities of our mind. This free six-evening course covers the essential techniques in learning and mastering meditation, rediscovering the inner life and restoring clarity and calm.
Our presenter is Jogyata Dallas, who has taught workshops on meditation in many countries and authored several books about the subject and his own personal experiences.
Each evening introduces new material and meditation exercises that encourage stillness in the mind, body and breath, mantras and chants, the principle branches of yoga and examines the seven essential steps in developing a more spiritual lifestyle. It is recommended that you start on the first or second evening rather than joining after this.
Admission is free, registration is encouraged to ensure seating.
Please register to:
Ailsa 021 892 153.
Venue: Sri Chinmoy Centre, 89 Dominion Rd, Mt Eden.
Entry is just around the corner from 89 Dominion Rd, through the first entrance in Tawari Street.
No need to bring anything, ample local street parking.
All welcome.
Ryman Village Open Days
Friday 18 & Saturday 19 July, 10am - 2pm.
Come and experience the warmth of our Ryman village communities, we'd love to show you around.
Discover our lifestyle and care options, tour our show homes and explore our premium amenities.
Poll: Is AI rewiring our minds?
Artificial intelligence programs such as ChatGPT are here to stay - the question now is, how will they shape the future? Will the use of AI to complete daily tasks, particularly school work, impact cognitive abilities and creativity?
Recent work out of a MIT Media Lab suggests that people who … View moreArtificial intelligence programs such as ChatGPT are here to stay - the question now is, how will they shape the future? Will the use of AI to complete daily tasks, particularly school work, impact cognitive abilities and creativity?
Recent work out of a MIT Media Lab suggests that people who used ChatGPT have lower brain engagement than those who did not when writing their essays. While the MIT Media Lab work has driven headlines recently, others have been quick to remind us that the fear of technology is nothing new.
We want to know: Is AI an addition to the technological toolbox, or should we be having bigger conversations about the impact of AI technology?
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19.8% AI is making us lazy
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51.5% Ai is great, BUT only if used as a tool and not a substitute for thinking
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5.2% AI is great! People have a history of fearing new technology
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21.7% Too early to tell
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1.8% Have a different perspective? Share it below!
Got an overseas holiday coming up? Here are 10 tasks to tick off before you go
If you’ve got a walk down an air bridge coming up soon, you’ve probably got a checklist well underway. To make sure you haven’t missed anything, we’ve put together one, too. If you’ve forgotten to do any of these tasks, don’t worry – they’re all things we can help with.
1. Make … View moreIf you’ve got a walk down an air bridge coming up soon, you’ve probably got a checklist well underway. To make sure you haven’t missed anything, we’ve put together one, too. If you’ve forgotten to do any of these tasks, don’t worry – they’re all things we can help with.
1. Make sure your suitcase is travel worthy
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Don’t hold off getting out your suitcase until a couple of days before you leave. Check the wheels and zip are strong and you still remember the code for the lock. If it’s time to replace your old suitcase, we can help you find a good buy. You’ll find a range, from Kmart and The Warehouse cheapies right up to a pricey Samsonite, in our luggage test results.
2. Check your luggage limits
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This is especially important if you’re flying with multiple airlines. Check the allowed luggage dimensions to make sure you won’t have issues at the airport. Also keep in mind that, just because a bag is sold as a carry-on, it might exceed an airline’s size limits. We’ve noted if each of the small cases meet Air New Zealand and Jetstar criteria in our luggage test results.
3. Get ready to spend
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There are different ways of paying for things while you’re overseas. Our investigative writer Ruairi O’Shea has done the hard yards to assess all the options. His analysis makes it easy to see if you’d be better off with a debit card, credit card, travel card, cash or one of the new apps – Wise and Revolut. He’s even put together a handy summary of what he thinks you should do. You can read all about it in his article Travel money: the best cards to use overseas.
4. Check your travel insurance coverage
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Hopefully you’ve got travel insurance sorted – but have you read the policy yet? It’s a good idea to understand any limits listed in the fine print. That way you can decide if any holiday activities you’re planning are covered and if it’s OK to take certain valuables with you. If you do still need travel insurance, check out our travel insurance buying guide and policy comparison.
5. Keep an eye on things back home
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A security camera that connects to your WiFi network and sends you a notification when it detects motion can give you peace of mind while you’re away. There are 44 cameras, from brands including Ring and Arlo, in our security camera test results.
6. Know how you’ll use your phone
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If you go overseas without a plan for how you’ll keep using your phone, you could find yourself coming home to a big phone bill. You can find out about different roaming packs, local SIM cards and eSIMs and learn what Consumer staff members have done in our article How to keep using your phone overseas.
7. Get clued up on airport security
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Do you know where to pack that power bank or hearing aids charger? If you need to freshen up on the rules around what you can take in your carry-on and check-in, have a peruse of our airport security tips.
8. Consider paying for an extra bag
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If hitting the malls is going to be a big part of your trip, it could work out cheaper to plan ahead and prepay to take an extra bag. We’ve found it can be cheaper than paying the excess baggage fee when you show up to the airport with a heavy suitcase on the way home.
9. Do your duty-free research
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If you know you’ll be tempted by duty-free at the airport, now’s the time to do some research online. You might find the bottles of Pinot or perfume are cheaper back home or in the shops at your destination. We’ve shared our tips for making the most of duty-free shopping.
10. Consider tracking your luggage
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I recently found myself standing in an airport office with a bunch of other travelers whose luggage hadn’t shown up on the conveyer belt. We were all wishing we’d thought ahead and popped a tracker in our bags. At least that would have given us an idea of whether it was worth waiting around for them.
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