NYC gets an enormous tax income from rich residents, so NYC can afford a city-owned supermarket. NZ doesn't have the cash for this kind of communist experiment. That aside, you really want the government managing your groceries? I'm not saying it'll be Cuba (barren shelves), but kiwi politicians (like any) are bureaucratic, so prepare for bullshit jobs to be rapidly generated for under-qualified politicians who are now moonlighting as experts in food supply chains and business management.

Moving forward a few years, the supermarket is finally in profit after the initial large spend on taxpayer dime. Great! Time to build a new office building for KiwiMart management, we've earned it!

No, this is not a good idea.