How to convince Walmart to come to New Zealand

“Cheaper groceries require real solutions. To deliver a better deal for Kiwis at the checkout, we need to create the right conditions to attract more supermarket players to New Zealand,” says ACT Leader David Seymour.

“When people are driving across the country just to buy butter at Costco in Auckland, it’s a clear sign something’s broken. We can’t control global dairy prices, but we can create an environment where more retailers want to set up shop, bringing real competition to the grocery sector.

“One of the biggest barriers is New Zealand’s outdated planning and consenting rules.

“ACT would introduce a fast-track approval process for grocery development. This one-stop shop would streamline rezoning, consenting, and investment approvals, making it easier and faster to build new supermarkets at scale.

“A new entrant or smaller grocer could get approval for a full rollout of stores and warehouses within months, not years. For comparison, it took Costco three years and $100 million just to open one store in New Zealand.

“The fast-track would allow any applicant building at least 10 stores (or equivalent floor area) to use the fast-track. For five years, it would be limited to new entrants or smaller players, giving them a head start before the major incumbents become eligible.

“Projects should not be blocked, scaled back, or burdened with conditions just because they’re outside existing retail centres or might compete with dominant supermarket chains.

“Every approved development could also be mixed-use. That means a supermarket could have apartments or other commercial activities above it, making projects more attractive to investors who want to diversify and aren’t sure the New Zealand groceries market is big enough to open a supermarket on its own.

“If we want the Walmarts, Aldis and Tescos of the world to come here, we need to give them a reason to set up shop. This fast-track process sends a message to them that New Zealand welcomes competition and that they won’t be tied up in red tape by coming here.

“New Zealand needs to stop finger pointing and start problem solving.

“There is a serious cost of living challenge to tackle, we won’t address it by cutting down tall poppies or playing the blame game, that just scares competition away. We want lower prices, so we need more competition, that means removing the barriers that stop new players from entering the market.”