Why are Wellington families spending $15,246 a year on food when their wages aren't keeping up? The short answer: they're not actually buying more — they're just paying vastly more for the same trolley.

As Wairarapa communities struggle to recover from storm damage that's cut them off from essential services, Wellington's food price data reveals a quieter crisis that's been building for years. The capital's households spent $15,246 on groceries in 2024 — a 23% jump from the $12,357 they spent in 2020. (Source: Stats NZ, food-price-index-regional)

But here's the part that matters: that 23% increase barely outpaces inflation, which has climbed roughly 20-25% over the same period. Strip away the inflated dollars and Wellington families are essentially running to stand still. They're spending thousands more to maintain the same standard of living they had four years ago.

Break it down to weekly terms and the squeeze becomes visceral. That's $293 a week on groceries for the average Wellington household. Four years ago, it was $238. The extra $55 a week — $2,860 a year — isn't buying fancier meals or organic produce. It's buying the same pasta, milk, and meat at inflated prices.

The trajectory tells the story of compounding pressure. From 2020 to 2021, spending rose modestly — 2.6%, barely noticeable. Then 2022 hit with a 7.9% jump. By 2023, it was 9.8% higher again. Each year, the percentage looks manageable on paper. But stack them together and you get a cost-of-living crisis in slow motion.

For Wellington renters — already paying some of the country's highest housing costs — this is a double bind. Your rent climbed. Your power bill climbed. And now your weekly grocery shop costs $55 more than it did when COVID started. There's no slack left in the budget to absorb another shock.

And shocks keep coming. While the government unveils New Zealand's first national infrastructure plan, the infrastructure that matters most to struggling households is the one they're losing: the ability to afford the basics without raiding savings or skipping meals.

Here's what nominal spending figures hide: when food costs rise 23% but inflation runs at 20-25%, real purchasing power is essentially flat. Wellington families aren't living better. They're working harder to afford the same life. The number that looks like growth is actually stagnation dressed up in expensive grocery receipts.

This is why wage growth matters. This is why inflation-adjusted figures matter. Because $15,246 in 2024 dollars doesn't buy what $12,357 bought in 2020. It buys roughly the same amount of food — just with a significantly larger dent in your bank account.