"Kiwis not getting a raw deal" on butter prices

[Lilith7]

According to Cruella de Ville, aka Nicola Willis those complaining about the cost of butter aren't getting a raw deal. Which is all very well for her, others though are likely to be struggling.
I'm glad I use an olive oil spread instead.



She also said that her meeting with head of Fonterra, Miles Hurrell was 'constructive & engaging'.... but when RNZ approached him he wouldn't be interviewed.

"But I get it. Butter is expensive right now"...I wonder whether anyone actually asked her the price of butter at present. I'd put money on her not having a clue.

https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/kiwi...willis-rnz

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Bullshit.

One term government.

[Lilith7]

Bullshit.

One term government.

Oh, I do hope so - 'they're worth it.'...

And then the next govt had best undo all the damage this lot have done, as fast as possible.

[jim157]

you do understand our prices are tied to international markets .....dont you?

[Oh_hunnihunni]

You do understand pricing is a choice right? Like purchasing.

[Lilith7]

you do understand our prices are tied to international markets .....dont you?

 Perhaps you've not heard but sometimes there can be both an overseas price & a domestic price for the same product....

[harm_less]

you do understand our prices are tied to international markets .....dont you?

 Perhaps you've not heard but sometimes there can be both an overseas price & a domestic price for the same product....

Maybe but Fonterra in this case are paying their farmers a price based on international price parameters so if they reduce prices for domestic destined products then who wears the lower price. 

Do they pay some of their suppliers less because their milk is destined for the NZ market? I suspect the farmers wouldn't be lining up for that deal. 

Do Fonterra take a hit on products sold in NZ using milk bought at international linked price? Can't see that being popular as Fonterra's intent is to maximise profits for their shareholders so again it would impact farmers, just over a wider base.

Opening up NZ's imports of butter from other countries may help to apply market pressures on Fonterra but there will be many who prefer we maintain a protectionist approach to our primary industries.

Not a simple issue to address for sure. I'm just happy to be dairy intolerant so not directly affected by this kerfuffle.

[Oh_hunnihunni]

Pricing is a choice. Tourists pay more than locals regularly, and justifiably. Gold carders get special discounts, platinum card holders get all sorts of benefits. Farmers didn't suffer when some months back that big lamb export order fell through and lots of consumers could suddenly afford to try roast lamb again, till it was all gone.

Please do not tell me that Fonterra has no choice. That's just mealy mouthed self serving rubbish.

[king1]

i think they could do it if they wanted to, but it would have to be the farmers/shareholders that put the pressure on Fonterra to do so.

The farmers will be being paid on the year end profitability of Fonterra, divvied up to the farmers based on kgs of milk solid or whatever measure they use. It's not like any particular farmer would lose out just because their contribution was used to supply the NZ market.

and the NZ market was only 5% of their sales so in the grand scheme of things it would likely be but a few cents off their expected payout of $8-11

But it all conflicts completely with the 'only responsibility is to maximise profits' mantra...

[Lilith7]

 Perhaps you've not heard but sometimes there can be both an overseas price & a domestic price for the same product....

Maybe but Fonterra in this case are paying their farmers a price based on international price parameters so if they reduce prices for domestic destined products then who wears the lower price. 

Do they pay some of their suppliers less because their milk is destined for the NZ market? I suspect the farmers wouldn't be lining up for that deal. 

Do Fonterra take a hit on products sold in NZ using milk bought at international linked price? Can't see that being popular as Fonterra's intent is to maximise profits for their shareholders so again it would impact farmers, just over a wider base.

Opening up NZ's imports of butter from other countries may help to apply market pressures on Fonterra but there will be many who prefer we maintain a protectionist approach to our primary industries.

Not a simple issue to address for sure. I'm just happy to be dairy intolerant so not directly affected by this kerfuffle.

I think it may be time that we stopped encouraging the worst in human nature; Fonterra doesn't have to make massive profits to survive. 

But of course it isn't only Fonterra; greed has dazzled plenty of other businesses around the world thanks to Neo Liberalism.

[Lilith7]

And then there's this...'farm lobbyists'


https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/07/25/who-be...-part-two/

"On November 28, 2023, the day after he was sworn in as Associate Minister of Agriculture, Andrew Hoggard received a text message.
“Congrats for yesterday Andrew, what a massive honour!!” wrote Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford. “Will see you Wednesday night.”
It’s no surprise the men are friendly. When Hoggard was the lobby group’s president, Langford was his vice president. That is until May 2023, when Hoggard announced he was leaving to stand in the general election as an Act Party candidate – something he called “rural politics’ worst-kept secret”.


Their relationship raises questions about influence. Not everyone has access to a minister – let alone their phone number, or a pre-planned meeting with them a few days later.

But there’s also a level of familiarity not common to all ministerial relationships.

“Hey,” Langford writes in an undated text message, “we are just drawing up the industry agreed position on farm plans, we have a national council meeting on Monday where [we] will present it, does that work for us to get it to you after that?”
Within a minute, Hoggard replies: “Yep really good timing.”

[Lilith7]

Satire

PSA from Fonterra CEO

https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=924493543167511