Members of Tauranga's social service agencies have expressed shock over research which shows New Zealand's grocery prices have risen faster than most industrialised nations.
A study by the University of New South Wales found New Zealand's food prices rose by 42.5 per cent in the time the study was conducted.

Tauranga Community Food Bank chairman Don Brebner.

Don Brebner, Tauranga Community Trust Foodbank chairperson, says food prices have been increasing for some time, especially items such as butter, cheese and milk.
'It's made it more difficult for us because we have to raise more money for things like perishable items.
People are on the brink of survival financially and they are being pushed over it,” says Don.
Major Stephen Crump, Tauranga Salvation Army spokesperson, says the grocery price hike has got to be a contributing factor that forces people to rely on social service agencies.
'Any movement in food prices is going to hurt. We do refer a lot of people to the community foodbank,” says Stephen.
The monopoly of New Zealand's supermarket industry by two companies has contributed to grocery price hikes, according to Consumer New Zealand.
But Stephen says the two big supermarket companies operating in New Zealand, Progressive Enterprises and Foodstuffs, try to compete with each other.
'I don't think they try to collude to push up prices,” says Stephen.