1311 days ago

Honing In On Supermarkets

Michael from Trentham

During the last two years or so of the pandemic in NZ, the big winners commercially were supermarkets and banks.

Whilst business in general took a big hit and in many cases - a dive - supermarkets and banks thrived.

All this whilst the Government had to find huge loans and spend money earmarked for other projects and promises to help Kiwis get through the crisis.

So while I loathe banks I(mainly Australian) making so much dough and charging customers unnecessarily more than should be the case, I don't begrudge supermarkets in NZ profiting annually by a handsome amount. And yet I do say the line must be drawn on the approx 500 million annually the two supermarket franchises have made whilst some in NZ have been scrimping and failing to gather in enough money to buy groceries weekly and the Government is blamed for the rising cost of living and the rising inflation rate well past the hitherto three percent max per annum.

So the steps the Government are taking are the right ones and hopefully will further pave the way for additional competition from at least another supermarket player.

Supermarkets in NZ were given big wraps by people here on Neighbourly during the pandemic for being so stoic but did they really deserve all the praise? They didn't pay their staff extra for the extra dangers they faced and they made more profit than normal as people staying at home bought more products sold at supermarkets.

More messages from your neighbours
4 hours ago

The Summer Kiwi Quiz is back by popular demand

Summer Kiwi Quiz - 2026

Grab a copy of your local Stuff newspaper between 1 Jan - 28 Jan and participate in the Summer Kiwi Quiz! Test your knowledge, answer the daily New Zealand based questions, and find out how well you know our beautiful country!

Each correct answer will get you one entry into the draw to WIN 1 of 5 Ooni Karu 2 Portable Pizza Oven bundles, valued at $1024! Each bundle includes: an Ooni Karu 2 Multi-Fuel Portable Pizza Oven, Ooni Karu 2 Carry Cover, Ooni 12" Perforated Peel, Ooni Digital Infrared Thermometer and an Ooni Cookbook: Cooking with Ooni. The more answers you enter correctly, the higher your chance of winning. For more information and to submit your answers, click here

The Team at Stuff
Enter Here

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3 days ago

Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

🎉 2026 is almost here!

We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?

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Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
  • 10.4% Yes! New Year, New Me
    10.4% Complete
  • 19.9% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
    19.9% Complete
  • 69.7% Nah - not for me
    69.7% Complete
815 votes
16 days ago

Scam Alert: Fake information regarding December Bonuses from MSD

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The Ministry of Social Development is reporting that fake information is circulating about new ‘December bonuses’ or ‘benefit increases’

If you get suspicious communication, please contact Netsafe.

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