Australia’s agriculture minister is calling for a boycott of New Zealand produce, according to the New Zealand NZCity website.


Peter McGuaran’s call come as farmers drive their tractors into Melbourne as part of a month long protest over supermarkets and fast food chains switching to cheaper foreign produce, the website said. The protest was sparked by McDonalds’ decision to dump its Tasmanian suppliers in favour of cheaper New Zealand potatoes.


McGuaran said what is needed is for Australians to buy Australian products first – though he added the rider “if they can afford it”.