Thinking Twice Before Buying Butter? You’re Not Alone

The cost of a standard block of butter is now more than double what it was a decade ago, according to new data from Stats NZ, which reports a 120 percent increase over the past 10 years, RNZ has reported.

In its latest figures, Stats NZ said overall food prices had risen by 4.6 percent in the year to June 2025, with dairy products continuing to be a key contributor to the increase.

Stats NZ spokesperson Nicola Growden told RNZ that dairy prices had remained a significant driver of the annual food price rise. Milk prices increased by 14.3 percent over the year, reaching $4.57 for two litres. Butter prices jumped 46.5 percent to $8.60 for a 500g block, and cheese prices rose 30 percent to $13.04 per kilogram.

Growden noted that butter had become nearly five dollars more expensive than it was 10 years ago, marking a rise of over 120 percent.

There were also steep increases in the cost of meat, poultry and fish. Growden said the average price of beef mince had climbed from $18.80 in June 2024 to $21.73 per kilogram in June 2025.

Food prices rose by 1.2 percent in the month of June alone. The increase in fruit and vegetable prices was mainly driven by higher costs for tomatoes, capsicum and broccoli. For grocery foods, boxed chocolates and eggs were identified as key contributors to the rise.