Wellington City Milk-supply Act 1919

The Wellington Milk-Supply Act was originally enacted in response to concerns over the quality of milk being supplied to Wellington residents, and the high cost of fresh milk due to a spike in export prices for dairy products during World War I. Under the Act, Wellington City Council took complete control over the treatment and distribution of milk in Wellington through the Municipal Milk Department, established in 1918. == 2021 application for a milk licence ==

In 2021, Wellington lawyer Tyrone Barugh featured in local media after pursuing legal action against Wellington City Council when it declined his application for a milk licence under the Act. In a follow up letter, the Council justified their decision on three grounds: • The Wellington Milk-Supply Act had been implicitly repealed by the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001 and granting a licence would undermine the new legislation. • Granting a licence would run contrary to the stated purpose of the licencing regime, which is "securing for the inhabitants of the city an adequate supply of milk of good quality and at a reasonable price". The Council argued that granting a licence would reduce the security of Wellington's milk supply. • If the Council did possess the power to issue licences under the Act, Barugh's application lacked sufficient detail to support the granting of one. Barugh lodged an appeal with the High Court against the decision but later withdrew this after the Council threatened to pursue the applicant for legal costs. == Sources ==