PM Edition: Top 10 Business Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for September 17, 2026 – Full Text

A New Chapter for Hang Lung’s Second-Largest Market in the Chinese Mainland

HONG KONG SAR and SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 September 2026 – Hang Lung Properties Limited (SEHK Stock Code: 00101) (“Hang Lung” or the “Company”) today celebrated the opening of Xi Zhe Wuxi, Curio Collection by Hilton (“Xi Zhe Wuxi”), the crowning addition to Center 66’s mixed-use destination. Bringing together retail, office, apartment and hotel components, Center 66 is a cornerstone of the Company’s presence in Wuxi, its second-largest market on the Mainland. The arrival of Xi Zhe Wuxi reinforces the complex’s role as a regional commercial benchmark, deepening the synergies between Hang Lung’s developments in Shanghai, Wuxi, and Hangzhou, further advancing its contribution to the Yangtze River Delta integration.

Mr. Weber Lo, Chief Executive Officer of Hang Lung Properties, said, “Hang Lung has built a strong presence in Wuxi for the past 13 years. The grand opening of Xi Zhe Wuxi marks a milestone in Phase Two of Center 66, reflecting the results of our long-term commitment to the city. As the first Curio Collection by Hilton in Hang Lung’s portfolio, the hotel brings local culture to life through distinctive hospitality experiences. Leveraging Hilton’s operational expertise and international clientele, both parties will create lifestyle synergies and further enhance the overall appeal of Center 66. We are confident that the complex will continue to set the benchmark for premium commercial development in Southern Jiangsu.”

Mr. Herman Chui, Senior Director – Office, Hotel & Residence at Hang Lung Properties, said, “Xi Zhe Wuxi fills a long-standing gap in Wuxi’s upscale hospitality offering, giving the city a genuine anchor for bespoke travel and business stays. Curio Collection by Hilton complements Center 66 with elevated, individualized service that invites guests to stay longer and explore more of the destination. Equally important is the strength of our partnership with Hilton, whose global clientele mirrors the premium, discerning customer base we have cultivated over the years, opening the door to meaningful cross-brand synergies. Coinciding with Hang Lung’s 66^th anniversary, Xi Zhe Wuxi marks an important milestone in the evolution of Center 66 ecosystem, which strengthens the appeal and competitiveness of the entire development.”

Located at the heart of the city, Center 66 delivers exceptional vibrancy by seamlessly integrating commerce, culture, and community. At its core, the mall has assembled one of the region’s most distinguished luxury portfolios as the only address in Wuxi for boutiques including Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior and Gucci, etc. It is also home to over 250 international brands, including more than 30 ultra-luxury names and over 100 first-to-market stores.

Complementing the mall, two Grade-A office towers bring a steady flow of business professionals on weekdays, Center Residences provides a stable residential base, and the newly opened Xi Zhe Wuxi adds hotel guests throughout the week, whether for business or leisure. Together, they foster a diverse community of residents, professionals, shoppers, and visitors, sustaining the complex’s vibrancy. This diversity is further amplified by Center 66’s reach beyond Wuxi itself, with nearly 30% of visitors traveling in from outside the city — a regional pull made possible by Wuxi’s economic strength, with GDP reaching nearly RMB 1.7 trillion in 2025, up 5% year-on-year.

Xi Zhe Wuxi, the brand’s debut in Jiangsu Province, offers 105 rooms and suites across two distinctive buildings: a contemporary wing and a restored heritage residence originally built in 1933 by Wuxi entrepreneur Mr. Zhang Xiaocheng and his sister. The hotel’s intimate scale supports a highly personalized guest experience. By weaving heritage and modernity into a single narrative, the two buildings add a strong cultural dimension into Center 66, infusing the complex’s retail and business activities with a sense of local history and craftsmanship. Complementing its guestrooms, the hotel features Sanwei Bistro, serving modern Wuxi cuisine; French bistro & bar Now and Then; an indoor swimming pool; and multifunctional spaces for meetings and events.

Mr. Alexander Shockley, Senior Director of Lifestyle & Collection Brands, Asia Pacific, Hilton, said, “Today’s travelers are seeking stays that feel personal, authentic and deeply connected to their destination. Hilton’s lifestyle brands are designed to meet these evolving expectations, offering differentiated experiences that give guests the freedom to express themselves, discover local culture and connect in meaningful ways. As we expand our lifestyle portfolio in China, we will continue to strengthen the positioning of our lifestyle brands and bring more distinctive experiences to travelers across the country.”

Looking ahead, under its V.3 strategy, Hang Lung will continue investing in its highest-performing assets, with the Center 66 Expansion increasing the mall’s retail footprint by 38% and unlocking the next phase of growth for one of the Company’s best-performing assets in the Chinese Mainland.

Hashtag: #HangLung

About Hang Lung Properties

About Center 66, Wuxi

• Launched in H1 2026, Heavy Weight Express service saw a 16% increase in Weight per Day growth for the region (excluding China)
• High-value, technology-related cargo, engineering & manufacturing, and automotive are the biggest drivers, making up two-thirds of the total weight of heavyweight segment

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 September 2026 – Following DHL Express’s introduction of Heavy Weight Express (HWX) this year, DHL Express recorded a 16% growth in its Time Definite International Weight per Day in Asia Pacific (excluding China) between January and July2026. This reflects how DHL’s Smart Industrial Growth Strategy is yielding positive outcomes as businesses are moving heavier, critical components, machinery, and industrial equipment across borders.

The heavyweight market has been gaining traction in recent years. Industry research shows that an estimated 10.2 million tons of heavyweight shipments¹ are being moved in Asia Pacific (excluding China) each year. Many companies have spent years reducing inventory and improving efficiency across their supply chains. However, companies today operate in a far less predictable environment marked by trade disruptions, manufacturing bottlenecks, and fluctuating demand. The rise in heavyweight shipment volumes mirrors a shift in how businesses are managing supply chain risks, as they increasingly turn to express logistics not only to handle sudden shifts in demand but also to have greater agility, certainty and control over timelines.

“Behind the numbers is a simple reality: Businesses are shipping heavy when timing matters and when it’s critical,” said Ken Lee, CEO for Asia Pacific, DHL Express. “As companies continue to navigate a complex landscape where uncertainty has become the norm, speed and reliability have also become part of the business decision. Customers are making deliberate decisions on what they ship through our network. Our Heavy Weight Express solution helps companies avoid downtime, protect working capital and keep operations moving when supply chains don’t go exactly as planned.”

Technology, Engineering & Manufacturing, and Automotive top Asia Pacific’s heavyweight contributors

Across the region, high-value, technology-related cargo, such as computer chips and semiconductors, accounts for the largest share of DHL Express’s heavyweight segment at over 34%, driven by rapid investment in data centers to support the growing demandfor computing capacity, data storage, cloud services, as well as artificial intelligence. This has fueled demand for technology-related shipments, from semiconductors and servers to cooling systems and electrical infrastructure. However, a data center crunch is creating supply chain bottlenecks as demand for semiconductor manufacturing outpaces infrastructure supply. As a result, express logistics services are urgently activated to move critical components quickly and efficiently, helping to keep projects on schedule.

The other main contributors to the heavyweight segment are businesses in engineering & manufacturing as well as the automotive industry.

Automotive is the fastest growing sector

HWX service is also gaining strong momentum in the automotive sector, with its shipment weight increasing at a rate of nearly 20%. As the leading export region for this sector, Asia Pacific is also seeing a surge in Asian automotive brands, particularly Electric Vehicle (EV) manufacturers from China and Southeast Asia. As these brands expand into new markets, they are also moving vehicle parts sourced from different suppliers and manufacturers across borders. This has created the appetite for expedited shipments to keep production running. In this sector, a single late or failed shipment could instantly cost automotive manufacturers millions of dollars.

Asia affirms role as a vital trading hub

In Asia Pacific (excluding China), the fastest growth in heavyweight shipments for the first seven months of the year came from India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan and Hong Kong. These markets reflect two of the region’s strongest trade corridors – Southeast Asia’s firm role as a manufacturing and sourcing base, and North Asia’s strategic position as a hub for high-value technology, industrial and automotive supply chains. Additionally, India, the Philippines, and Vietnam are also recognized as key markets of the geographic tailwinds initiative.

“As companies continue to manufacture out of Asia, balancing project timelines and building more resilient and agile supply chains become a priority. To maintain production continuity and ensure certainty, they are consolidating goods into heavier shipments. These non-negotiable conditions are also “urgency drivers” that put us at an advantage to help deliver our customers’ shipments at a definite time,” said Ken Lee, CEO for Asia Pacific, DHL Express.

In recent years, DHL Express has added several new infrastructures across the region, including an expanded global hub in Hong Kong, facilities near Cebu and Manila airports, gateway at Christchurch airport, Hanoi gateway near Noi Bai airport, as well as Delhi gateway, culminating in approximately 1,000 facilities in the Asia Pacific region. This is further supported by a robust aviation network of around 810 flights per day.

¹McKinsey/IHS Markit (2024)

Hashtag: #DHLExpress #GlobalTrade #HeavyWeightExpress

DHL – The logistics company for the world

As part of the forum, the PHOENIX STAR 2026 CHINA CITY HONORS were officially unveiled.

Developed by Phoenix TV in collaboration with Brand Finance, the honors draw on selected data and findings from the Brand Finance China City Index 2026 to highlight distinctive strengths of Chinese cities that have strong potential to resonate with wider audiences. Through Phoenix TV’s global media network, the honors aim to bring greater visibility to the unique value of Chinese cities and support their city-brand development.

The underlying Brand Finance research covered 70 major Chinese cities and surveyed approximately 12,000 respondents. It examined 46 city brand attributes across seven pillars: Business & Investment, Liveability, Culture & Heritage, People & Values, Sustainability & Transport, Governance, and Education & Science.

This year’s honors highlighted the distinctive strengths of city brands across China.

Guangzhou received the title 2026 City of Brand Influence in recognition of its openness and inclusiveness, strong public awareness, and business appeal. Hangzhou was named the 2026 City of Innovation and Entrepreneurial Vitality for its dynamic innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem and urban creativity.

Nanjing received the title 2026 City of Industry-Academia-Research Integration, reflecting its strengths in higher education and research, as well as close collaboration between academia and industry. Chengdu was named the 2026 City of Culture, Tourism and Consumer Vitality for bringing cultural and tourism experiences together with vibrant consumer offerings.

Changchun received the title 2026 City of Cultural Festival Appeal, reflecting its diverse cultural festivals and distinctive urban character. Xi’an was named the 2026 City of Historical and Cultural Influence for bringing its rich historical and cultural legacy to life through contemporary expression and wider engagement.

During the forum, Scott Chen, Managing Director of Brand Finance China, spoke to Phoenix TV about the findings of the Brand Finance China City Index 2026.

“The research shows that cities follow a wide variety of development models, and there is no single path that applies to all of them,” Chen said. “Yet the cities that remain most memorable are often those that have developed one particular strength to an exceptional level, or those that possess a distinctive but under-recognized advantage. This is also the value of our collaboration with Phoenix TV on the PHOENIX STAR 2026 CHINA CITY HONORS: identifying the defining strength that makes each city memorable.”

Chen added that conventional indicators used in city promotion, such as GDP and population, can describe a city’s size but cannot fully explain why people aspire to visit it, trust it, or choose to stay.

“Helping wider audiences understand the aspects of everyday life that make local residents proud may be one of the most cost-effective investments a city can make in its brand today,” he said.

From openness and inclusiveness to innovation and entrepreneurship, from consumer experiences and cultural festivals to academic collaboration and cultural heritage, the presentation reflected the diversity of Chinese city brands. A city brand is not only an expression of the city’s image; it is also becoming an important form of soft power for attracting talent, industry, capital, and consumption.

Following the city honors presentation, the forum announced the Joint Initiative for Global Brand Communications of “Invest Guangzhou”. The initiative was jointly launched by Phoenix TV’s FengShows, the Canton Investment Development Commission (CIDC), and Guangzhou’s coordinating office for city brand development and communications. The three parties will draw on their respective strengths to collaborate on the global promotion of the “Invest Guangzhou” brand, international economic and trade events, a global investment-promotion think tank, and regular communications and project implementation. The collaboration aims to enhance Guangzhou’s visibility among global investors and encourage more international capital, industries, and talent to discover and engage with the city.

Looking ahead, Phoenix TV will continue to follow the development of Chinese city brands and use its global media network to bring their distinctive value to a wider international audience. Phoenix Go Glocal will also continue to support more Chinese city brands in reaching the world.

Hashtag: #PHOENIXSTAR2026 #PHOENIXTV

Source: BusinessNZ

BusinessNZ is alarmed at National’s proposal to pursue the separation of supermarket chain Foodstuffs.

“New Zealand has long benefited from a reputation for regulatory stability, respect for property rights and predictable policy settings. Measures of this nature risk undermining that reputation at a time when New Zealand needs investment, productivity growth and economic confidence,” said BusinessNZ Director of Advocacy Catherine Beard.

“This is a very concerning move by the National Party and sends a chilling signal to businesses across New Zealand that the Government can break up businesses. It also sends the wrong signal to foreign investors looking to invest in New Zealand.

“We consider this to be in the same league as Labour’s ban on oil and gas exploration and New Zealand First’s promise to split up the gentailers.

Ms Beard said any proposal to structurally separate Foodstuffs would require rigorous scrutiny of its unintended consequences.

“Increasing competition in New Zealand’s grocery sector is a worthwhile goal, but structural intervention of this scale raises significant questions about whether it would actually deliver lower prices for consumers.

“BusinessNZ is strongly pro-competition and supports measures that genuinely improve choice and put downward pressure on prices. But we remain unconvinced that structural separation is the best way to achieve those goals.

“Supermarkets have faced intense scrutiny due to the political narrative that the cost-of-living crisis stems from a lack of competition arising from the dominance of two major supermarket chains.

“But when we compare a basket of goods from New Zealand supermarkets with international prices, the Commerce Commission itself acknowledges that such comparisons do not take into account the fact that all food purchased in New Zealand has 15% GST applied, whereas comparator countries including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and Ireland do not apply GST or VAT to many food items.

“Breaking businesses apart does not automatically create more competition, and it certainly does not guarantee cheaper groceries.

“Supermarkets rely heavily on scale across purchasing, distribution, logistics, technology and other infrastructure. If structural separation reduces those efficiencies or duplicates costs, there is a risk that some of those costs ultimately find their way to consumers.

“Competition is not determined solely by market structure. New Zealand’s small population and dispersed geography present challenges that larger countries do not face. Where there is greater scale, such as in Auckland, competition is already stronger because a larger customer base can support more competitors.

“The grocery sector has already been subject to extensive regulatory intervention, including the Commerce Commission market study, the establishment of the Grocery Commissioner, a regulated wholesale regime and the Grocery Supply Code.

“The Commerce Commission’s own reporting shows a more complicated picture than the suggestion that nothing has changed.

“It identified some movement in margins and market share, while Woolworths New Zealand’s profitability has fallen substantially in recent years. The Commission’s latest annual report also says regulatory changes are beginning to bed in and that the environment is becoming more conducive to new grocery retailers entering and expanding.”

The BusinessNZ Network including BusinessNZ, EMA, Business Central and Business South, represents and provides services to thousands of businesses, small and large, throughout New Zealand.

Investor Confidence Index stands at 68 despite global market volatility Expected investment return reaches 7.7% Affluent and high-value investors show stronger optimism

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 September 2026 — Dah Sing Bank, Limited (the “Bank”) today released the second edition of its Investor Confidence Index (“ICI”), providing insights into the confidence levels and investment behaviour of Hong Kong investors. The survey found that despite uncertainties surrounding the global economic outlook, geopolitical developments and market volatility, the Investor Confidence Index stood at 68, broadly in line with last year’s level, indicating that overall investor confidence in Hong Kong remains positive and strong. Respondents who were confident about market conditions over the next 12 months expected an average investment return of 7.7%. Affluent and high-value investors demonstrated stronger confidence than mass investors, with the confidence index among high-value investors reaching 75.

Conducted in August 2026, the survey tracked changes in investors’ sentiment and behaviour under different market conditions through interviews with investors of profiles comparable to last year’s sample, with the aim of establishing an authoritative indicator that reflects overall investor confidence in the market. The online survey covered 608 Hong Kong investors, comprising mass investors (liquid assets below HKD1 million), affluent investors (HKD1 million to HKD8 million) and high-value investors (above HKD8 million).

The survey showed that investors generally maintained a proactive investment stance. A total of 88% of respondents indicated that they would maintain or increase their investment allocation over the next 12 months. Investors with higher levels of confidence also tended to hold a lower proportion of cash and adopt more diversified asset allocations, reflecting that risk diversification remains an important investment strategy.

Equities continued to be the most favoured asset class, with 56% of respondents confident of generating positive returns from equities over the next 12 months. Respondents also expected the Hang Seng Index and the S&P 500 Index to rise by 15% and 17% respectively from benchmark levels[1] over the coming 12 months, representing a larger increase than anticipated last year.

In terms of investment themes, technology-related opportunities remained the area of greatest interest for the second consecutive year, with 58% of respondents indicating an interest in related investment opportunities. Meanwhile, 49% of respondents expressed concerns over high valuations of AI-related assets, while 46% were concerned about geopolitical risks and 38% about economic slowdown.

Risk disclosures:
Investment Service
Investment involves risks. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Before making an investment decision, customers should refer to the relevant investment product offering documents for detailed information including the risk factors. If customers are in doubt, independent professional advice should be sought.

Securities Service
Investment involves risks. The price of securities fluctuates, sometimes dramatically. The price of securities may move up or down and may become valueless. Losses may be incurred rather than profits made as a result of buying and selling securities. Customers should carefully consider whether the investment products or services mentioned herein are appropriate for them in view of their investment experience, objectives and risk tolerance level, and read the terms and conditions of relevant Securities Services before making any investment decision.

Risks of client assets received or held outside Hong Kong
Client assets received or held by Dah Sing Bank, Limited outside Hong Kong are subject to the applicable laws and regulations of the relevant overseas jurisdiction which may be different from the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571) and the rules made thereunder. Consequently, such client assets may not enjoy the same protection as that conferred on client assets received or held in Hong Kong. Customers should also seek relevant professional advice on any tax obligations that might arise from investing in overseas products.

Structured Investment Products
Structured investment products are not equivalent to time deposit. They are not a protected deposit and are not protected by the Deposit Protection Scheme in Hong Kong. Investment involves risks. Structured investment products involve derivatives. Some structured investment products are classified as complex products and involve risks of loss. You could lose your entire investment. You should exercise caution in relation to these products. The investment decision is yours but you should not invest in these products unless Dah Sing Bank, Limited has explained to you that these products are suitable for you having regard to your financial situation, investment experience and investment objectives. Before making an investment decision, customers should refer to the relevant investment product offering documents for detailed information including the risk factors. If customers are in doubt, independent professional advice should be sought.

Unless the context requires otherwise, this document does not constitute any offer, invitation or recommendation to any person to enter into any investment/securities transaction nor does it constitute any prediction of likely future movements in prices of any investment products/securities.

This document has not been reviewed by the Securities and Futures Commission or any regulatory authority in Hong Kong.

Important Note:
The above market survey content is for reference only and does not take into account the individual needs and circumstances of investors. The Bank cannot guarantee the fairness, accuracy, completeness or precision of any information, projections or opinions or the basis of any such projections or opinions contained in this information, and will not accept any liability in the absence of fraud, negligence and willful default. The predictions and opinions expressed in this information are for reference only. It is not an independent research report, and do not constitute investment advice or a guarantee of returns. This Bank reserves the right to amend the content of this information without prior notice. Investors should not rely on the content of this information to make any investment decisions. Our bank shall not be liable for any loss arising from any person’s use of or reliance on this information. Investment involves risks. Prices of securities and investment products may fluctuate and past performance is not indicative of future results. Investors should read relevant product documents and terms including the risk disclosure contained therein carefully before investing. Unless the context requires otherwise, this document does not constitute any offer, invitation or recommendation to any person to enter into any investment transaction nor does it constitute any prediction of likely future movements in prices of any investment products. If investors are in doubt, independent professional advice should be sought.

The service(s) / product(s) mentioned herein is/are not targeted at customers in the EU.

[1] Benchmark levels: Hang Seng Index 25,207 and S&P 500 Index 7,412 (as of July 27, 2026)

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Hashtag: #DahSingBank

Dah Sing Bank

Press Conference: For Greener Cities, NOW!

On Press Day, 14 September, JAC Motors held a press conference at its booth under the theme “For Greener Cities, NOW!,” presenting four electrified models to the European market. Partners, fleet operators, and trade media from Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, and other countries attended.

At the press conference, Oscar Yu, General Manager of JAC International, stated that Europe is a key market in the company’s global expansion. JAC commercial vehicles are already present in Germany, Spain, France, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Switzerland, with a target of full European coverage by 2028. Since IAA Transportation 2024, JAC has established one subsidiary in Europe and built a localised marketing and service system covering 13 countries, including 8 regional strategic partners, over 50 authorised sales outlets, and more than 100 after-sales service outlets. In Spain, JAC holds a 41% market share in the medium-duty electric truck segment, ranking first. (Source: Spanish Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) registration data, Jan–Jun 2026.)

The solutions JAC offers European customers go beyond the vehicles themselves. JAC’s subsidiary in Italy serves as a regional parts centre, covering warehousing, service and technical support, customer operations, and marketing. On financing, JAC has partnered with Santander and others to offer finance leasing, operating leasing, PCP (Personal Contract Purchase)/TCM (Trade Cycle Management), and flexible instalment plans, covering needs from fleets to individual users. On complete vehicle solutions, JAC works with bodybuilder partners such as Infore Environment to cover refrigerated transport, municipal sanitation, rescue, and other specialist applications.

The press conference also showcased JAC’s progress in Europe: JAC Motors Italy is now operational, the German dealer network is taking shape, and the parts logistics system already covers all of Germany. As JAC’s European business gradually moves from building its footprint to day-to-day operations, the atmosphere of conversations at this year’s booth has changed noticeably compared with 2024. Conversations at the booth now go straight to operations: Is the range enough? How long does charging take? Can this vehicle save the fleet money?

Looking ahead, JAC will continue to advance product introduction and channel expansion, targeting full coverage of the European market by 2028, participating in Europe’s urban green logistics transition with a complete electrified product portfolio and localised service capabilities.

Hashtag: #JACMOTORS

Response by KK Chiu, International Director, Chief Executive, Greater China, Cushman & Wakefield:

Response by John Siu, Managing Director, Hong Kong, Cushman & Wakefield:

Planning Ahead for AI and Data Centre Infrastructure

We welcome the Government’s commitment to accelerate the development of the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster, which is expected to provide computing power equivalent to 36 times Hong Kong’s current capacity by 2032, alongside a HK$1 billion injection into the Artificial Intelligence Subsidy Scheme. These initiatives will provide important support for the development of Hong Kong’s artificial intelligence and data centre sectors, further strengthening the city’s position as a regional digital and innovation hub.

However, with rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, large language models and cloud computing, demand for computing power is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. We believe that, in addition to planning data centre sites, the Government should proactively review long-term requirements for power supply, electricity grid capacity and related infrastructure. As AI adoption becomes more widespread, access to reliable power and supporting infrastructure will be a key factor in maintaining Hong Kong’s competitiveness as a technology and data centre hub.

We support the Government’s stated direction of pursuing “high-efficiency computing power, stable electricity supply and low-carbon transition”. Looking ahead, we recommend that the Government regularly review future demand for land, power supply and supporting infrastructure arising from the growth of artificial intelligence and data centre activities, particularly within the Northern Metropolis and other strategic development areas. A coordinated approach to computing, energy and digital infrastructure planning will help attract more data centre operators and technology companies to Hong Kong, while supporting the city’s long-term development as a regional hub for data and artificial intelligence.

Hashtag: #Cushman&Wakefield

About Cushman & Wakefield

Source: EMA

The proposal to forcefully break up the Foodstuff’s grocery chain undermines the foundations of business and private property rights, says the EMA.

“It’s not quite nationalising a private business but it’s too close for comfort,” says the EMA’s Head of Advocacy Alan McDonald.

“And that’s a terrible signal to send when we’re currently trying to attract much-needed international investment through the government’s open-for-business mantra.

“Seeing a right-of-centre, business-focused political party like National suggest this type of policy will sit uneasily with businesses in New Zealand.

“It might be a populist policy for a grumpy electorate but that doesn’t make it a good policy.”

Successive governments had tried to encourage a scaled-up, third-party chain into the market and failed because the scale needed simply wasn’t there, McDonald says.

Other measures such as opening up planning laws had also been recently introduced to try and make the emergence of a third chain – either a domestic or international – more viable.

Announcing this type of policy before those changes had any significant timeframe to make a difference, simply undermined the previous intent.

“We also have a grocery commissioner, now folded into the ComCom, and a better option might be to find a stronger regulator and give them more teeth to deal with the issues in the sector,” McDonald says.

“The Australian commission has no compunction about stepping into the market and using its market powers to intervene but we’ve seen nothing like that in New Zealand.

“Forced separation is a step too far.”

Source: New Zealand Labour Party

Let’s be honest about what’s going on.

Prices keep going up. Wages don’t keep up. And a small number of big, powerful companies are cashing in.

You feel it every week. At the supermarket checkout. On your power bill. At the petrol pump.

A handful of companies control many of the things you can’t do without. They know you have nowhere else to go – and they can use that power to charge you more than they should.

It’s called price gouging. It’s unacceptable. And Labour is going to make it illegal.

When people are working hard but still struggling to afford groceries, it can feel like the whole system is stacked against them.

We’re going to change the rules.

We’ll give the Commerce Commission real power to investigate the most powerful companies, take them to court, and make them pay back every dollar they overcharged you.

For the first time, the law will draw a clear line between high prices and unfair, excessive prices.

And this isn’t only about families at the checkout. Growers, producers and small suppliers are squeezed by the same corporate giants. We’ll make sure groups representing them can take complaints directly to the Commerce Commission too.

Let’s be clear about who this targets. Not your local dairy. Not your local café. Not the tradie down the road. Small businesses are doing it tough too.

This law will crack down on the big end of town – the powerful players in groceries, power, fuel, telecommunications, banking and insurance.

National said they’d fix the cost of living. Instead, it got worse. We can’t afford another three years of Christopher Luxon.

Last year, one in three New Zealand households couldn’t afford enough food. That’s not bad luck. It’s the result of political choices – choices we can make differently.

If a company uses its power to rip you off, we will stop them. As Prime Minister, I’ll personally oversee this to make sure it happens fast.

Labour will take on the big companies. We’ll take the profit out of price gouging. And we’ll put hardworking people first – because that’s who this country is for.