Price gouging in New Zealand looks VERY different
While the rest of the world race for toilet paper and hand sanitiser, New Zealanders are complaining about another item on their lockdown supermarket shopping.
A government-initiated price monitoring form found that the vegetable is the issue Kiwis complained about the most.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the reporting service Price Watch received 990 emails in its first day of operation.
“The most common complaint was ... the high price of cauliflower, with some emails quoting NZ$13 (AU$12.66) each,” Ardern told reporters on Wednesday.
“Prices of hand sanitiser, bread, meat, facemasks and garlic also featured.
“I want to say to people that we are taking these complaints seriously.”
Ardern said the government would continue to keep watch on price gouging during the lockdown.
“In some cases, it will simply be an issue of constrained supply, particularly when it comes to produce,” she said.
“But we are investigating complaints that are made because this is a time when we want to know that New Zealanders are being treated fairly.”
Supermarkets are among the essential services still running in New Zealand amid the country’s Level 4 alert. Restaurants, cafes and takeaway services are closed along with cinemas, gyms, libraries, museums and playgrounds.