This is edition 2025/57 of the Ten@10 newsletter.
Welcome back. It's 2025 and 20 years since I started writing about politics and anything else that took my fancy. Thank to my VIP members for making this site what it is today. In July we will be having a 20th birthday celebration. Stay tuned for more announcements.
This is the Ten@10, where I collate and summarise ten news items you generally won't see in the mainstream media.
Enjoy!
1. How dairy lobbyists get their way in the Beehive
Bryce Edwards
- 🥛 The dairy industry wields significant political influence in New Zealand, notably through former Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard's rapid transition to Minister for Food Safety.
- 🌱 Hoggard's appointment blurs the line between industry advocacy and public policy, raising concerns about conflicts of interest.
- 🏛️ Critics argue that Hoggard's regulatory decisions may favor industry preferences, influenced by his background as a farm lobbyist.
- 👨👩👧👦 His familial ties to the dairy lobby, particularly his sister's role in dairy advocacy, further complicate perceptions of impartiality.
- 🔍 Transparency regarding potential conflicts of interest remains a critical issue amid ongoing scrutiny.
- 🍼 Anusha Bradley’s RNZ story highlights the August 2024 decision by Andrew Hoggard to opt out of a new trans-Tasman infant formula standard, influenced by dairy industry lobbying.
- 📜 The proposed standard aimed to update infant formula regulations, aligning with international practices to prevent misleading health claims and promote breastfeeding.
- 🚫 Despite over a decade of development, New Zealand's opt-out delayed stricter rules until at least 2029, diverging from Australia's 2030 implementation.
- 😞 Public health advocates criticized the decision as a missed opportunity to protect infant health and ensure accurate information for caregivers.
- 💼 Lobbying efforts by powerful dairy and formula companies influenced the government's reversal, raising concerns about conflicts of interest and public health priorities.
- 🥛 Danone hired Blackland PR to intensify lobbying efforts, emphasizing potential $1 billion export losses.
- 🚨 Lobbyists facilitated meetings between Danone executives and Minister Hoggard to sway policy decisions.
- 📉 Despite MPI support, industry warnings about export impacts dominated discussions.
- 🏢 Lobbying extended to PM Luxon and senior ministers, influencing government stance.
- 💼 Cosgrove & Partners also engaged, reinforcing industry pressure on infant formula standards.
- 🌏 Cabinet decision favored industry concerns over public health recommendations.
- 🧾 Hoggard justified opt-out citing economic interests, raising concerns over regulatory capture.
- 📰 Public criticism highlighted conflicts of interest and lack of transparency in decision-making.
- 🍼 Future NZ standards development questioned amidst ongoing industry influence concerns.
