Lower prices for meat, poultry and fish and fruit and vegetables have seen  New Zealand food prices drop for the first time in almost six years.

Food prices fell by 0.7 per cent in May and by 0.5 per cent for the year to May, according to Statistics New Zealand.

Prices fell for meat, poultry, and fish as well as fruit and vegetables – all down 4.5 per cent.

Fruit and vegetable prices have been falling on an annual basis for nearly a year.

Fresh chicken prices fell 11.5 per cent over the year while porterhouse/sirloin beef steak fell 10.6 per cent, and bacon fell 7.4 per cent.