New Zealand shoppers order groceries from Australia as inflation soars

Savings are worth the extra time, say some shoppers, though the increased carbon footprint does cause some unease

Tins of spaghetti, soap, pasta shells and raw almonds: purchases more commonly carted into New Zealand homes by shopping trolleys and car boots than jetted on international flights. But as prices hit new highs, shoppers are taking drastic measures - including ordering groceries for delivery from Australia.

It's almost like Christmas," said Belinda*, a Wellington woman who said she now regularly ordered groceries online from across the Tasman to supplement her local shopping. Browsing Australian groceries, she said, she was startled by the range of products and how much cheaper they were than those stocking New Zealand shelves.