Shoppers across the country were stopped in their tracks during the final Leaders' Debate when National leader Christopher Luxon revealed his weekly supermarket bill comes to ... $60.
Grocery prices have rocketed in the past couple of years – figures out today showed prices jumped another 8% in the past 12 months – and most people will be spending hundreds of dollars a week keeping themselves alive.
But not Luxon. He said in response to a question from Jessica Mutch McKay that his weekly Sunday shop in Wellington - for just himself - costs a meagre $60, triggering laughs from the audience and Labour leader Chris Hipkins.
Christopher Luxon's shopping list
So just what could Luxon get for his tiny spend?
Our intrepid reporter jumped online and looked at prices for basic items you'd find in any Kiwi pantry. Each item is the cheapest available at the supermarket closest to the Beehive - New World Thorndon.
2L Value Lite Milk - $3.71
1 loaf of Value White Toast Bread - $1.59
Otaika Valley Premium Free Range Size 7 Eggs 12pk - $12.39
Pams Edam Cheese 1kg - $11.29
Any Pams Value Pasta 500g - $2
2 Wattie's Crushed & Sieved Tomatoes 400g - $4
Value Table Spread 500g - $2.19
500g of skinless chicken breast - $7.75
500g of beef mince - $10
1kg bag of Apples - $5
Total spend - $59.92
Clarification issued
Hipkins said his shop was "certainly a lot more than $60".
"It would be probably $300-$400 if I combined all the spending that I did on food in a week."
But shortly after our investigation was completed, Luxon clarified his comments, suggesting some eating out might be involved. Presumably some stops at the free food in the Koru Lounge might also come in to play during all those election campaign trips.
“I buy breakfast and lunch items at the start of the week, and that isn’t all I spend on food each week. But what I spend at the supermarket which is what I was asked,” he said.
Hipkins wasn't the only one in disbelief, many Kiwis were shocked by the miniscule spend and rushed to social media to express their surprise.
Another possible shopping list
The Breakfast crew also got their calculator out, working out this shopping order for just over $66.
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