Marama Davidson Pledges Supermarket Intervention and Support for Food Security in Election 2026 Pitch

On 7 September 2026, Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson announced a significant policy platform for the upcoming election, focusing on grocery costs and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Speaking to Radio Waatea, Davidson outlined a plan to challenge the current supermarket duopoly through the creation of 'KiwiMart,' a proposed publicly owned supermarket chain. The initiative aims to lower the weekly grocery bill for whānau and ensure that rangatiratanga and Crown partnership remain central to government priorities. The proposed 'Affordable Kai' policy involves a $2.8 billion investment to acquire and capitalize 120 existing stores and two distribution centres. According to Parliamentary Library modelling obtained by the Greens, this restructuring would position the state as a third major player in the grocery sector. Davidson linked the policy directly to food insecurity, noting that approximately one in five children live in households that regularly run out of food. By reducing the cost of kai, the Greens argue that whānau will have more resources for essentials such as rent, healthcare, and education. Beyond the supermarket chain, the Greens are promising a $150 million annual Fair Food Fund to support community-led food-security initiatives. This fund is expected to benefit marae and Māori health providers who are currently at the frontline of addressing household hardship. Additionally, the party plans to double the cap on Work and Income food grants and permanently fund the Ka Ora, Ka Ako school lunch programme, expanding it to an additional 150,000 children. Davidson’s platform also includes tougher regulations on corporate pricing. The party intends to grant the Commerce Commission stronger powers to prohibit excessive pricing in the energy, fuel, and grocery sectors. A mandatory pricing-accuracy code would also ensure customers receive automatic compensation if overcharged at the checkout.