A Northland PHO is appealing to lower the milk prices so that low income families can afford it.

Manaia Health PHO, Chief Executive, Chris Farrelly, says, “domestic milk prices are too high considering 15 billion litres of milk is produced in New Zealand each year”. This PHO serves 93,000 people In New Zealand.

He believes that the idea to sell the milk at international prices is baseless especially when only 5% of the milk produced in the country is for the domestic market.

High prices of milk are damaging the health of children’s and poor families are suffering due to it. Introducing price controls, offering assistance to low income families and reducing or eliminating GST on food are ways to encourage milk drinking. Increase in childhood obesity is a result of drinking fizzy drinks which are much cheaper as compared to milk.

Mr. Farrelly says that the cheapest milk in a Whangarei supermarket is now $NZ3.65 for two litres whereas in Australia it is for $A2. He says only one third of New Zealand children now drink milk daily and 17% of children do not drink milk at all.

He believes that child poverty is an issue of major concern in the country and health of children could be improved by lowering the prices of milk.