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10+ Things New Zealanders Have Stopped Buying

​Our guide outlines what has become too expensive and what New Zealanders are doing instead as the country navigates higher living costs and problematic job security. 
Updated 7 March 2026
​Summary
  • New Zealanders are being squeezed out of everyday purchases that were once considered normal and affordable. Online discussions on Reddit, consumer research, MoneyHub reader emails and our research team's analysis paint a consistent picture - beef mince and butter are becoming luxury items, and families are going without fresh fruit.
  • This guide analyses the 10+ most common items and categories New Zealanders have stopped buying (or dramatically reduced), what they're doing instead, and practical insights on how to navigate the cost of living crisis without sacrificing health, wellbeing or quality of life.
  • This guide is based on real consumer sentiment gathered from online forums, social media discussions and MoneyHub's research. The themes reflect middle-income New Zealand - working families, professionals and retirees who are making difficult daily trade-offs on what they can and cannot afford.​

Know This First: Full-Price Supermarket Shopping is Over for Many New Zealanders
  • The era of walking into a supermarket and filling a trolley without checking prices is over for many people. The new reality is simple - if it's not on special, it's not going in the trolley.
  • The use of price comparison tools like PricePulse (a Chrome extension) and Grocer.nz reflects a consumer base that is actively fighting back against supermarket pricing - Consumer also has a must-read guide to trusted apps and tools.
  • A growing number of New Zealand households now operate elaborate multi-store strategies: Pak'n Save as a base, farmers' markets for produce, Asian grocery stores for staples like rice and cooking oil, Chemist Warehouse for cleaning and personal care products, and stocking up on specials to stay four to six weeks ahead on pantry items.
  • We believe shopping strategically across multiple stores can save $50–100+ per week compared to doing a full shop at New World or Woolworths. The effort is real, but so are the savings.
  • New Zealand's supermarket duopoly continues to deliver poor value for consumers. Pak'n Save remains the clear winner on baseline pricing per Consumer research, but the biggest savings come from diversifying where you shop.
  • Asian grocery stores are consistently cheaper for rice, oils, spices and many staples. Farmers' markets beat supermarkets on seasonal produce. Chemist Warehouse is better for cleaning and personal care products. While not everyone in New Zealand has access to these stores, we publish this guide to share insights to help you shop smarter and save. ​
MoneyHub Founder Christopher Walsh on the Cost of Living Reality
"The consumer sentiment behind this guide is a barometer of where New Zealand is at financially. When hundreds of people independently say they've stopped buying beef, butter, cheese, chocolate and fresh fruit – not because they've chosen to, but because they can't afford to – I argue that something is fundamentally broken.

What strikes me most is the number of people who've become 'accidentally vegetarian' – not through choice but through price. New Zealand exports beef, lamb, butter, and cheese to the world, yet its own people can't afford to eat them.

There are also stories of resilience and ingenuity - people are rediscovering butchers, farmers' markets, Asian grocery stores, farmers markets, home cooking and DIY solutions. They're learning new skills, eating differently, and finding that some of the enforced changes have unexpected benefits – better health, less waste, more creativity in the kitchen.

This guide draws on the research and gives you actionable tips - we can't fix the system overnight, but we can help you navigate it smarter."
Christopher Walsh
​MoneyHub Founder 
A Warning - Be Careful of Supermarket Collectible Promotions
While everyday New Zealanders are cutting beef, butter and fresh fruit from their shopping lists as the cost of living increases, our supermarkets are running collectible promotions designed to make you spend more. We believe Woolworths' "Bricks" campaigns, New World's sticker-for-cookware schemes, and similar promotions have one purpose - to get you through the door, increase your spend, and keep you coming back. We argue that they are not offering gifts or rewards - they are marketing tools, and they work because they often target children and exploit habit.

Here's how it works. Woolworths, as of March 2026, was giving you one "free" Bricks pack for every $30 you spend. To collect all 40 packs, you'd need to spend $1,200 at Woolworths – a supermarket that consistently charges more than Pak'n Save on baseline grocery prices. Over the course of a Bricks promotion, a family spending $200 per week at Woolworths instead of Pak'n Save could have saved money, bought real toys, or put it towards an emergency fund.

New World's sticker schemes follow the same playbook. You spend more at a premium supermarket to collect stickers that earn you cookware or kitchen items, some of which have reportedly run out of stock before the promotion ends. Consumer analysis consistently shows you'd be better off shopping at Pak'n Save, and we believe the savings can be used to buy better-quality cookware from a retailer like Briscoes during one of their (perpetual) sales.

We believe some of these promotions deliberately target children. The Bricks campaign features named cartoon family characters, themed playsets and a checklist to track your collection – all designed to arguably create "pester power" that pressures parents into spending at Woolworths. Children don't understand that the "free" toy came at the cost of a more expensive grocery shop. They just know they want the next pack. For families already under financial stress, this dynamic adds unnecessary pressure - we don't like any of it, and there are consequences as this Reddit post outlines.

Our View: 
  • Do not change where you shop based on a collectible promotion.
  • Do not spend an extra dollar to qualify for a "free" pack of plastic bricks or a sticker.
  • Shop where the groceries are cheapest.
  • If your children are asking for the collectibles, use it as an opportunity to explain needs versus wants, budgeting and the reality that "free" things in supermarkets are never actually free.
  • The money you save by ignoring these promotions and shopping at a cheaper supermarket is real money that stays in your pocket.
  • The collectibles are designed to end up in a landfill*, a drawer*, or forgotten under a sofa* within weeks.
  • Your savings, if redirected wisely, compound for years.

​*A spokesperson from Woolworths New Zealand commented to MoneyHub the following: "Woolworths Bricks Home is made from 100% recycled plastic and has been certified by the Global Recycled Standard (GRS). Bricks Home collectibles can be returned to stores by 31 March 2026 and will be recycled".

10+ Things New Zealanders Have Stopped Buying

Each section below analyses a category identified from real consumer sentiment, explains what's happening, and provides practical tips on navigating the cost.

Important Disclaimer on Prices
​All price references in this guide are approximate, based on average supermarket retail prices, consumer reports, and sentiment from early 2026 (e.g., Stats NZ food price data to January 2026, media coverage, and reader feedback). Prices can vary significantly by:
  • Region and store (e.g., Pak'nSave typically lower than Woolworths and New World)
  • Promotions/specials (many items drop 20–50% on deal)
  • Brand, pack size, or quality (e.g., premium vs budget lines)
  • Seasonality (fresh produce especially)
  • Recent changes (e.g., imported American butter appearing cheaper in some stores from March 2026).
​
These are not guaranteed quotes - always check current in-store or app prices (e.g., using PricePulse and Grocer.nz ) for your area. The guide focuses on trends and sentiment rather than exact quotes, as the "too expensive" feeling stems from sustained rises outpacing wages.

Red Meat and Beef Mince

The single most discussed item across consumer sentiment - beef mince, once the backbone of budget family meals, has become a luxury product for many New Zealanders. Supermarket mince is now consistently around $20–25 per kg, and premium cuts like scotch fillet and sirloin are pushing $60–80 per kg.

The shift is dramatic - Families that once built weekly meal plans around mince-based dishes – spaghetti bolognese, shepherd's pie, tacos and lasagne – are now stretching 500g across multiple meals, mixing in lentils, black beans or cauliflower, or abandoning red meat altogether. A growing number of New Zealanders describe themselves as "accidentally vegetarian" due to cost alone.

New Zealand's other signature export has followed the same path as beef. A leg of lamb at $70 is a hard pass for most households, and lamb has largely transitioned from an everyday affordable protein for New Zealand families to a luxury reserved for special occasions – if purchased at all.

The disconnect between New Zealand's status as a major lamb exporter and the domestic price is a source of significant and understandable frustration. There is widespread nostalgia for a time when lamb was something every New Zealand family could afford regularly.

What people are doing instead: Buying from local butchers (often cheaper than supermarkets) and using canned lentils to bulk out mince dishes.

Our View: Beef prices reflect a disconnect between what New Zealand produces and what New Zealanders can afford. With export prices strong, domestic consumers are paying global rates for locally produced meat. If you eat beef, butchers and direct-from-farm purchases remain the best value. Our guide to grocery savings has more tips on reducing meat costs.

Butter

A product that symbolises New Zealand's dairy industry has become too expensive for many of the people who live here. Butter is one of the most frequently cited items in consumer sentiment data, with widespread frustration that a primary New Zealand export is priced out of reach for domestic consumers. This has prompted American butter to be imported from March 2026, with mixed reviews. 

Spreadable butter containers have hit record highs, making even premium margarine alternatives look reasonable by comparison.

What people are doing instead: Switching to budget margarine, rationing butter for special occasions only, experimenting with vegan butter recipes for baking, and only purchasing on deep specials, as well as buying American butter.

Our View: Butter pricing reflects global commodity export markets, and Fonterra's pricing structure means New Zealanders pay world prices for a product produced down the road. Budget margarine is nutritionally comparable for everyday use – check the ingredient labels, and you'll often find minimal differences. Reserve real butter for baking, where it makes a noticeable difference.

Cheese

The price of cheese has driven some households to abandon it entirely. A small bag of grated cheese, enough for two pizzas, now costs $9–10. Basic Edam or Colby blocks are $14+ per kg, while premium cheeses like Parmesan cost $12+ for a small sliver.

Shrinkflation has hit the category hard, with 800g blocks now standard where 1kg was once the norm. For many families, cheese has moved from a pantry staple to an occasional treat.

What people are doing instead: Buying in bulk when on deep special, switching to store-brand options, using cheese more sparingly as a flavour enhancer rather than a main ingredient, and in some cases cutting dairy from their diets entirely.

Our View: Like butter, cheese pricing reflects New Zealand's position as a dairy exporter. Pak'n Save consistently offers the best baseline cheese prices. Buying 1kg blocks when on special and freezing portions is one of the most effective strategies. Our guide to supermarket savings covers more approaches.

Chocolate

Whittaker's, arguably New Zealand's most beloved chocolate brand, is one of the most frequently discussed items in the cost-of-living conversation. A 250g block now sits at $8–$9 at full price, with "on special" prices of $7–$7.50 that would have been considered expensive just two years ago. The same block was $4.50 not long ago.

The chocolate price surge isn't unique to New Zealand – global cocoa prices have been volatile. But for everyday consumers, the result is the same - chocolate has shifted from a weekly treat to a monthly luxury or a complete cut.

What people are doing instead: Only buying on special at Pak'n Save, switching to smaller treat bars, and simply going without. Many have noted improved health and weight loss as a silver lining.

Our View: Chocolate is a discretionary purchase that can add up quickly when it becomes a habitual buy. At $8.50 per block purchased weekly, that's $442 per year on chocolate alone. If you've been buying it out of habit rather than genuine enjoyment, the price increase may be doing your budget and health a favour. When you do buy, Pak'n Save specials remain the best value.

Takeaway Coffee

The $6 to $7 coffee is the new normal in many New Zealand cafes, and for a growing number of people, it's the price point where they've drawn the line. Industry spokespeople have suggested prices should be heading toward $10.50, which has only deepened the frustration.

Daily cafe coffee at $7 costs $2,555 per year for a five-day-a-week habit. Even three times a week adds up to $1,092 annually. For many, the maths no longer works, especially when good home coffee options exist.

What people are doing instead: Going without, trying quality instant coffee, making coffee at work, buying budget beans by the kilo, and treating cafe coffee as a rare weekend indulgence rather than a daily habit.

Our View: Coffee is one of the clearest examples of a small daily expense that compounds into serious money. A good home setup – even a basic espresso machine or AeroPress – pays for itself within weeks. If you value the cafe experience, limit it to once or twice a week and savour it. Track what you spend on coffee for a month, and you'll likely be surprised. Our guide to budgeting apps can help you identify patterns in discretionary spending.

Eating Out, Restaurants and Brunch

Brunch for two is now approaching $100. A sandwich costs $15. Pad Thai takeaway is over $20. These prices have fundamentally changed how New Zealanders eat out. Couples and families across the country describe restaurant meals as reserved for rare occasions rather than regular entertainment.

What people are doing instead: Cooking at home almost exclusively, learning to make restaurant-quality dishes (poached eggs, curries, pad Thai), meal prepping, and reserving eating out for genuine celebrations. Many report that their cooking skills have improved dramatically as a result.

Our View: If you're eating out twice a week at $50–80 per visit, you're spending $5,200–$8,320 per year. Redirecting even half of that to home cooking and investing the rest makes a meaningful difference to your financial position. Learning to cook well is one of the highest-return life skills you can develop.

Fast Food (McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, Subway)

Fast food was once the affordable alternative to restaurant dining. That's no longer the case. Subway, once positioned as the "cheaper alternative," is widely regarded as a poor-value option even with its sub of the day deals. The value proposition of fast food has collapsed for many consumers.

What people are doing instead: Cooking at home (often faster than waiting for fast food), using deals, treating fast food as a rare indulgence, and switching to independent takeaway shops that offer better value for money.

Our View: Fast food's appeal was always built on convenience and low cost. With the cost advantage gone, the only remaining draw is convenience – and many people are finding home cooking to be just as quick. If you do buy fast food, use the apps and chase the deals. But the best financial move is to reduce fast-food spending significantly. Both your wallet and your health will benefit.

Specific Fresh Fruit (Grapes, Berries, Watermelon, Stone Fruit)

Fresh fruit has become a genuine luxury for many families. Grapes are among the most cited examples – expensive and often poor quality, despite the price. Berries of any kind are considered unaffordable by many households, with a common frustration being that expensive berries spoil within a day of purchase. Watermelons at $10–15 for a small, seed-filled melon have pushed them off shopping lists entirely.
The health implications are real. Many New Zealanders acknowledge they're eating less fruit than they should because they cannot justify the cost.

What people are doing instead: Buying only what's in season, and shopping at farmers' markets and Asian grocers (which are consistently cheaper than supermarkets).

Our View: Farmers' markets and independent fruit and vegetable shops consistently undercut supermarket prices by 30–50%. If you have access to one, make it your primary source of fresh produce. Frozen fruit and vegetables are nutritionally equivalent to fresh and dramatically cheaper per serve. Even a small berry garden can significantly offset costs over time.

Streaming Services and Subscriptions

Netflix, Sky Sport, Spotify Premium, Apple TV, and Xbox Game Pass – subscriptions are being cut across the board. The cumulative cost of multiple streaming services can easily reach $100–150 per month, and for many households, that money is now needed for essentials.

The pattern across all subscription services is the same: prices are rising while perceived value is falling. Many New Zealand households have cancelled all their streaming services.

What people are doing instead: Cancelling all but one service, rotating between services month by month, using free library apps like Libby for books and audiobooks, sharing accounts where terms allow, and rediscovering free entertainment options.

Our View: Subscription creep is one of the most insidious budget killers. Every New Zealander should audit their subscriptions at least twice a year. List every recurring charge, total them up, and ask which ones you've actually used in the past 30 days. If the answer is "I forgot I had it," cancel it immediately. Our budgeting tools guide can help you automatically track these expenses.

Healthcare, Dental and Insurance

This is perhaps the most concerning category. Across New Zealand, people are stopping visits to dentists, doctors, optometrists and mental health professionals due to cost.

Some haven't seen a dentist in over a decade. Doctor visits at $80 have pushed some families to use A&E departments, which are inefficient and stressful alternatives.

Health insurance are also being cut. A growing number of New Zealanders now "self-insure" because premiums have become unaffordable, particularly for the self-employed. This creates a ticking time bomb of deferred healthcare that will likely result in higher costs and worse outcomes down the track.

Know This: Delaying healthcare almost always costs more in the long run. An $80 GP visit that catches an issue early is dramatically cheaper than emergency treatment later. If cost is a barrier, check whether you qualify for a Community Services Card, which significantly reduces GP fees. Many dentists offer payment plans, and some community dental clinics provide subsidised care.

Our View: Cutting healthcare is the most dangerous cost-saving measure on this list. If you're choosing between healthcare and other expenses, healthcare should win. Review whether you're accessing all available subsidies and consider health insurance options that cover the basics. Our guides to health insurance and dental costs can help you compare options and find affordable coverage.

Holidays, Cinema and Entertainment

International holidays have been cut by many, while domestic holidays are becoming less frequent. Cinema tickets, zoo visits, and children's activities like trampoline parks have all been reduced or eliminated. 

For families with children, the inability to afford activities is particularly painful. Parents across the country are reporting they can't provide "anything special or out of the ordinary" for their kids. The social and mental health implications of cutting leisure activities should not be underestimated.

What people are doing instead: Staycations, free local activities (beach days, bush walks, parks), library events, packed lunches for day trips, and home movie nights.

​Our View: Entertainment doesn't have to be expensive. New Zealand's natural environment offers world-class free experiences. For cinema, consider discount days, loyalty programmes or waiting for streaming releases. For holidays, domestic camping remains one of the best-value options. Plan entertainment spending into your budget so it happens intentionally rather than being cut entirely – rest and leisure are essential, not optional.

Clothing, Beauty and Personal Care

Fast-fashion stores, nail salons, beauty treatments, and new clothing have all been cut back. Op shops (thrift stores), once the go-to budget alternative, are also getting more expensive as professional sellers cherry-pick the best items. Even thrift shopping is no longer the bargain it once was.

Vitamins, supplements, and personal care products have also become casualties of tightened budgets. Many New Zealanders haven't updated their wardrobes in years, describing clothing purchases as strictly need-based.

What people are doing instead: Thrifting exclusively, extending the life of existing clothing, doing nails and beauty at home, cutting vitamins and supplements, and shopping at Chemist Warehouse for personal care products instead of paying supermarket premiums.

Our View: Clothing and personal care are areas where significant savings are possible without major lifestyle sacrifices. Chemist Warehouse and similar discount retailers consistently beat supermarket prices on personal care products by 30–50%. For clothing, buying quality basics less frequently is more cost-effective than buying fast-fashion items that fall apart quickly. If you're spending on beauty treatments, consider which ones you genuinely value and cut the rest.

​Our Conclusion - The New Normal Demands New Strategies

The number of items New Zealanders have stopped buying tells a story that goes beyond individual products. When beef, butter, cheese, chocolate, fruit, coffee and eating out are all simultaneously considered too expensive by a wide cross-section of working New Zealanders, we're looking at a systemic cost-of-living crisis rather than isolated price increases.

Three structural factors underpin this situation:
  • First, New Zealand's export-oriented primary industries mean domestic consumers pay global commodity prices for locally produced food.
  • Second, the supermarket duopoly provides limited competitive pressure on grocery pricing.
  • Third, wages have not kept pace with cost increases, particularly for middle-income earners.

The good news is that New Zealanders are adapting. The strategies emerging from consumer research – multi-store shopping, direct-from-farm purchasing, home cooking, growing food, cutting subscriptions, and strategic use of specials – represent genuine financial resilience. Many people are reporting unexpected benefits: weight loss from cutting back on chocolate and snacks, improved cooking skills, better health from reduced alcohol intake, and greater awareness of where their money goes.

What You Can Do Right Now
  1. Audit your spending: Use a budgeting app to track exactly where your money goes for 30 days. Most people find $100–500 per month in spending they didn't realise they were doing.
  2. Diversify where you shop: Pak'n Save for baseline groceries, farmers' markets for produce, Asian and Indian stores for rice, oil and spices, Chemist Warehouse for personal care.
  3. Buy on special and stock up: Supermarket specials cycle predictably. Tools like PricePulse and Grocer.nz help you identify patterns. If you can stock up on pantry staples 4–6 weeks ahead, you'll rarely pay full price.
  4. Invest in cooking skills: Home cooking is the single most effective way to reduce food costs. A simple rice-and-vegetable dish costs under $3 per serving. Learn five to ten reliable, cheap meals and rotate them.
  5. Don't cut healthcare: Of everything on this list, delaying healthcare is the most dangerous. Find subsidies, payment plans and community options before going without medical or dental care.
  6. Redirect savings to your future: If cutting chocolate, coffee and snacks saves you $100 per month, don't let that money disappear into general spending. Automate it into savings or KiwiSaver. Small amounts compound over time and build genuine financial security.

Our View: The cost of living crisis is real, it's widespread, and it's affecting New Zealanders across all income levels. But within the frustration, there are opportunities to build better habits, spend smarter, and take control of your finances. MoneyHub exists to help every New Zealander make better financial decisions – and we hope this guide contributes to that mission.
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