The Grocery Action Group wants more regulation in our supermarket sector. 

The Commerce Commission's first annual report on grocery shows competition has not meaningfully improved.

Foodstuffs and Woolworths could now face hefty fines for failing to treat small suppliers fairly or breaking a new wholesaler code.

Group lead Sue Chetwin told Ryan Bridge we need structural change to split up this big duopoly.

She says the Government has to bite the metal here and say we need more regulation to address the state of the industry.

LISTEN ABOVE

The Grocery Action Group wants more regulation in our supermarket sector.  
The Commerce Commission's first annual report on grocery shows competition has not meaningfully improved. 
Foodstuffs and Woolworths could now face hefty fines for failing to treat small suppliers fairly or breaking a new wholesaler code. 
Group lead Sue Chetwin told Ryan Bridge we need structural change to split up this big duopoly. 
She says the Government has to bite the metal here and say we need more regulation to address the state of the industry. 
LISTEN ABOVE

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Sue Chetwin: Grocery Action Group lead on the Commerce Commission finding competition in the supermarket sector has not improved

Semi-professional rugby tours may soon be back on the table.

New Zealand rugby is reportedly close to signing off a three-test, eight-match itinerary away against South Africa in 2026 - the Springboks would reciprocate in 2030.

Former All Black Ian Jones told Ryan Bridge it's wonderful news.

He said that it’s an absolute trip of a lifetime, and wonderful news not only for the players, but for the fans if they’re able to make their way over to watch.

LISTEN ABOVE

Semi-professional rugby tours may soon be back on the table. 
New Zealand rugby is reportedly close to signing off a three-test, eight-match itinerary away against South Africa in 2026 - the Springboks would reciprocate in 2030. 
Former All Black Ian Jones told Ryan Bridge it's wonderful news. 
He said that it’s an absolute trip of a lifetime, and wonderful news not only for the players, but for the fans if they’re able to make their way over to watch. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Ian Jones: Former All Black on the possible return of South Africa rugby tours

It’s a difficult retirement outlook for many Kiwis.

The latest Financial Services Council Money & You research reveals 94% of Kiwis worry about money, and one in five don’t have enough in their retirement savings to get them through the next year.

Many are dipping into savings to cover basics, with some having to juggle priorities.

Simplicity Founder Sam Stubbs told Ryan Bridge that a couple of things need to happen with KiwiSaver.

He said that we’re getting to the point where it needs to become compulsory, as it’s all very well that 79% of people are saving, but that still leaves 21% who’s retirement will be funded by the taxpayer.

The other thing, Stubbs said, is that the contribution needs to go up.

LISTEN ABOVE

It’s a difficult retirement outlook for many Kiwis. 
The latest Financial Services Council Money &amp; You research reveals 94% of Kiwis worry about money, and one in five don’t have enough in their retirement savings to get them through the next year. 
Many are dipping into savings to cover basics, with some having to juggle priorities. 
Simplicity Founder Sam Stubbs told Ryan Bridge that a couple of things need to happen with KiwiSaver. 
He said that we’re getting to the point where it needs to become compulsory, as it’s all very well that 79% of people are saving, but that still leaves 21% who’s retirement will be funded by the taxpayer. 
The other thing, Stubbs said, is that the contribution needs to go up. 
LISTEN ABOVE

Sam Stubbs: Simplicity Founder on the number of Kiwis struggling with finances and retirement savings

According to the group who are upset about the monopoly-duopoly that's happening in our grocery sector, you could save, at most per person, about $74 per year. That's if they were to have perfect competition in the sector, which obviously would be very hard to achieve.  

Do you know what else costs you $80 a year?

A friend and I were chatting at the gym the other day and he showed me his rates bill, which he had kindly brought to the gym to encourage him to run faster.

There's an $80 targeted rate for the food compost bin. He said, what's that for? And I was like, it's the green bin that's on the street that no one uses. Then he was running faster than I've ever seen him run on the treadmill.

So apparently 60 to 65% of us don't use them. I know they have them in other parts of the country, in Auckland we've only got them just recently, so we're all getting a bit used to them. But $80 a year is what you have to pay.

And I got quite angry because if you're on a fixed income, $80 a year is a lot of money. If you're a pensioner and you cannot opt out of this service. 

Who else can charge you for a service that you don't want or need? 

What about a pensioner who does their own composting in the backyard? They can't opt out of it. They have to have this bin, and they have to pay $80 per year for the privilege.

It's like a barber giving a lady a beard trimmer and saying here, I'm going to charge you for that. I don't need it. Oh, well, you have to have it. Why? Just cause.

And you know what? They're all made of plastic, these bins, so how's that for the environment?

According to the group who are upset about the monopoly-duopoly that's happening in our grocery sector, you could save, at most per person, about $74 per year. That's if they were to have perfect competition in the sector, which obviously would be very hard to achieve.   
Do you know what else costs you $80 a year? 
A friend and I were chatting at the gym the other day and he showed me his rates bill, which he had kindly brought to the gym to encourage him to run faster. 
There's an $80 targeted rate for the food compost bin. He said, what's that for? And I was like, it's the green bin that's on the street that no one uses. Then he was running faster than I've ever seen him run on the treadmill. 
So apparently 60 to 65% of us don't use them. I know they have them in other parts of the country, in Auckland we've only got them just recently, so we're all getting a bit used to them. But $80 a year is what you have to pay. 
And I got quite angry because if you're on a fixed income, $80 a year is a lot of money. If you're a pensioner and you cannot opt out of this service.  
Who else can charge you for a service that you don't want or need?  
What about a pensioner who does their own composting in the backyard? They can't opt out of it. They have to have this bin, and they have to pay $80 per year for the privilege. 
It's like a barber giving a lady a beard trimmer and saying here, I'm going to charge you for that. I don't need it. Oh, well, you have to have it. Why? Just cause. 
And you know what? They're all made of plastic, these bins, so how's that for the environment?

Sue Chetwin: Grocery Action Group lead on the Commerce Commission finding competition in the supermarket sector has not improved

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