Willis challenges supermarket duopoly, following recent ACCC report

Cambelle Cook

Self-Published

15 June, 2025

Parliament chambers, where Willis raised national supermarket concerns

During Parliament Question Time last week, National party’s minister of finance Nicola Willis, emphasized the need for greater competition within the grocery sector, drawing parallels between Australia and New Zealand.

This call for action follows the recent release of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission report (ACCC). The ACCC report highlighted the supermarket duopoly, which is dominated by Coles and Woolworths.

Willis compares these findings to the monopolization of Foodstuffs and Woolworths in New Zealand, telling parliament that “Kiwi shoppers are being poorly served” by the lack of price competition which leads to high grocery prices and a limited product range.

To address this issue Willis calls for a new national-scale supermarket to introduce competition and deliver more affordable choices for customers. The ACCC report suggests stricter merger laws, zoning reforms, and supplier protections to address this issue.  While the New Zealand government is addressing these concerns, its current initiatives mainly focus on removing regulatory hurdles.

On Sunday, Willis announced concrete steps the government will take to address the supermarket competition. This includes the launch of a Request for Information (FRI), and the commission of specialize advice.

Willis says that potential legislation will be introduced before the end of 2025.