New Zealand First's plan to force more Fonterra milk into the hands of rival manufacturers is being dismissed as a “dumb idea”. 

The party wants to amend the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act, giving qualifying manufacturers access to up to 500-million litres of Fonterra milk a year for six years – up from the current 50-million. 

Dairy industry analyst Peter Fraser told Ryan Bridge if NZ First wanted to build a fast-moving consumer goods industry, it should have started 25 years ago. 

He says even Goodman Fielder —with major brands across the country— would struggle to use half of that volume of milk, so thinking competitors would simply build a new factory is “nuts.” 

LISTEN ABOVE