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The Commerce Commission is New Zealand's primary competition regulatory agency and was established under section 8 of the Commerce Act 1986.The Commission is an independent Crown entity and is not subject to direction from the government in carrying out its enforcement and regulatory control activities. Our Purpose The Commission’s purpose is to promote dynamic and responsive markets so that New Zealanders benefit from competitive prices, better quality and greater choice.
The former managing director of a timber company that has gone into liquidation has pleaded guilty to 36 charges of breaching the Fair Trading Act in relation to misleading timber retailers and consumers about the characteristics of timber frames and roof trusses.
381 views
GISBORNE — The Commerce Commission has concluded its investigation into an allegation of price-fixing by the Committee of Gisborne Farmers Market.
195 views
The Commerce Commission has today released a letter outlining its indicative process and timeline to reconsider its recommendation in the mobile termination access services investigation that undertakings from Telecom and Vodafone should be accepted as an alternative to regulation.
157 views
Three companies involved in selling Love Springs branded water filters door to door have been restrained from engaging in conduct which is alleged to breach the Fair Trading Act, as a result of an interim injunction obtained by the Commerce Commission.
307 views
The Commerce Commission has today released its 2009 telecommunications monitoring report analysing the state of New Zealand telecommunications markets.
190 views
AUCKLAND — The Commerce Commission has granted clearance for Hoyts Corporation Holdings (NZ) Limited to acquire the Berkeley film exhibition business from Everard Entertainment Limited.
1,284 views
AUCKLAND CITY — An overseas-based company that ran a series of text to win trivia competitions has pleaded guilty to breaching the Fair Trading Act by not properly disclosing all the terms and conditions related to the competitions.
502 views
In response to a query from the Minister for Communications and Information Technology, the Commerce Commission has invited the Minister to consider the launch of Vodafone’s Talk Add-on product in his assessment of whether Telecom’s and Vodafone’s mobile termination access services (MTAS) undertakings should be accepted.
140 views
The Commerce Commission has today received judgment from the Supreme Court in relation to an issue of jurisdiction relating to individuals resident overseas who are alleged to have breached the Commerce Act.
399 views
The Commerce Commission has today issued a decision related to Telecom’s use of VDSL technologies in the provision of wholesale broadband services.
212 views
The Commerce Commission today published its summary and analysis of Telecom Corporation of New Zealand Limited’s first regulatory financial statements for the financial year ending 30 June 2009.
237 views
The Commerce Commission has recommended to the Minister of Commerce that Transpower be subject to individual price-quality regulation following the expiry of its administrative settlement with the Commission.
292 views
The Commerce Commission has received an application from Tomarata Sand Limited seeking clearance to acquire the assets and business of Coastal Resources Limited.
169 views
The Commerce Commission has received an application from Novartis AG seeking clearance to acquire the majority shareholding in Alcon, Inc.
330 views
A Commerce Commission investigation has resulted in a voluntary change of rules in the music copyright industry that will allow for competition to occur, to the benefit of those who purchase licenses for copyrighted music.
319 views
HAMILTON — Kenneth James Ross, the organiser of the failed air and car show Wings and Wheels over Waikato, was sentenced to nine months home detention and 200 hours community service in the Hamilton District Court today.
882 views
The Commerce Commission has reached a settlement with Cash Converters and its associated companies in New Zealand.
1,140 views
The Commerce Commission acknowledges the findings of a Commerce Committee report into a case involving a Northland man who felt he had not been dealt with fairly by the Commission over the consequences of a merger decision reached 24 years ago.
522 views
The Commission has received an application from Hoyts Corporation Holdings (NZ) Limited (Hoyts NZ) seeking clearance to acquire the film exhibition business assets of the Berkeley Cinema Group (Berkeley).
246 views
An Auckland based car dealership has pleaded guilty to five charges of breaching the Fair Trading Act for a misleading promotion about a 0% interest finance offer.
401 views
WELLINGTON CITY — A Wellington real estate agent, who was successfully prosecuted under section 14 of the Fair Trading Act for misleading use of a Buyer Enquiry Over price, has been discharged without conviction by the High Court following an appeal.
741 views
A Wellington real estate agent, who was successfully prosecuted under section 14 of the Fair Trading Act for misleading use of a Buyer Enquiry Over price, has been discharged without conviction by the High Court following an appeal.
389 views
The Commerce Commission has been advised that court proceedings have been filed against Commissioner Donal Curtin, relating to his private role as an investment adviser.
338 views
AUCKLAND — A company that manufactured and sold a calf feed that did not meet its advertised specifications has pleaded guilty to eight charges of breaching the Fair Trading Act.
477 views
The Commerce Commission has today released its updated cartel leniency policy.
274 views
The Commerce Commission today delivered its final report on mobile termination access services to the Minister for Communications and Information Technology.
673 views
The Commerce Commission today commenced a review of the cost of data transmission in the unbundled bitstream access (UBA) standard terms determination.
266 views
The Commerce Commission today released its draft decision on how the application of the unbundled bitstream access standard terms determination (UBA STD) relates to services delivered over VDSL.
306 views
The Commerce Commission has been informed by Telecom that they will be providing revised undertakings in relation to the Commission’s investigation into mobile termination rates.
254 views
The Commerce Commission is reminding retailers that, when offering free gifts or prizes, they should ensure that the fine print does not materially alter the terms of the offer.
255 views
The Commerce Commission has issued a formal warning under the Commerce Act to Ernie Travers of Massey, Auckland, a Trade Me seller who, in the Commission’s view, attempted to fix prices for LED bicycle lights with another online seller.
589 views
A company that ran a series of text to win trivia competitions is offering refunds to consumers who participated in the competitions.
284 views
A company which provides payment protection insurance has admitted a possible breach of the Fair Trading Act and will pay affected consumers about $37,000 in an out of court settlement with the Commerce Commission.
242 views
The Commerce Commission is taking a close interest in the surcharges some retailers have introduced this week for consumers paying by credit card and will continue to monitor developments.
677 views
In a settlement with the Commerce Commission, Telecom New Zealand Limited and Xtra Limited (Telecom) has admitted breaching the Fair Trading Act by misleading more than 130,000 broadband customers.
273 views
The Commerce Commission today released papers detailing the Commission’s emerging views on input methodologies for electricity distribution services, gas pipeline services and specified airport services supplied by Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch International Airports.
290 views
The Commerce Commission has warned a travel agency that some of its advertising and promotions of travel deals risk breaching the Fair Trading Act.
500 views
The Commerce Commission has today released a paper which sets out the Commission's draft guidance on Telecom Corporation of New Zealand Limited's non-discrimination obligations under the Telecom Separation Undertakings.
223 views
Telecom New Zealand Limited today released its first set of audited regulatory financial statements for the financial year ending 30 June 2009.
512 views
The Commerce Commission today released further revised undertakings received in relation to mobile termination access services from Telecom and Vodafone, and correspondence from 2degrees withdrawing all of their earlier undertakings.
215 views
The Commerce Commission has closed an investigation into a potential breach of a confidentiality order.
931 views
Discount Premium Holidays Limited, a New Zealand registered company that operated from Australia selling holiday vouchers in New Zealand, has pleaded guilty to 38 charges of breaching the Fair Trading Act and has been fined $209,000 in the Auckland District Court today.
887 views
Telecom New Zealand Limited has pleaded guilty to 17 charges of breaching the Fair Trading Act over claims made in 2006 when promoting Xtra’s Go Large broadband plan.
280 views
Telecom New Zealand Limited has pleaded guilty to 17 charges of breaching the Fair Trading Act over claims made in 2006 when promoting Xtra’s Go Large broadband plan.
895 views
The Commerce Commission today released a telecommunication service obligation (TSO) Cost Calculation Determination for the Local Residential Telephone Service covering the 2008/09 year.
238 views
The Commerce Commission has released its 2008/09 final determinations on: the cost of the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) for the hearing impaired; and the the proportion of cost to be met by each party liable to contribute to the cost of the TRS and the local residential telephone service obligation.
239 views
The Commerce Commission has today released draft guidelines on how divestment undertakings as part of a merger or acquisition application will be treated.
250 views
As part of the Commerce Commission’s investigation into mobile termination rates, the Commission has today written to 2degrees, Telecom and Vodafone inviting them to submit final revised undertakings.
263 views
The Commerce Commission has today released its determination and decisions paper for the price-quality path which will apply to electricity distribution businesses from 1 April 2010.
641 views
A Supreme Court judgment issued today allows the Commerce Commission to proceed with a significant compensation claim against Carter Holt Harvey related to mis-graded timber.
337 views
NELSON — The Commerce Commission has issued a formal warning to two energy companies alleged to have attempted to engage in anti-competitive conduct during the purchase by tender of a power station near Nelson in 2002.
1,615 views
INVERCARGILL — A fourth company involved in an Invercargill scheme which misled people into believing that they were buying their own homes has been convicted of eight charges of breaching the Fair Trading Act in a hearing in the Invercargill District Court today.
976 views
The poultry producer Inghams Enterprises (NZ) Pty.
791 views
The Commerce Commission has granted Mark Tume an exemption under the Electricity Industry Reform Act 1998 (EIR Act) in relation to his potential appointment to the board of Powerco, subject to certain conditions.
409 views
Brownlie Brothers Limited trading as Simply Squeezed, a juice manufacturing and distribution company pleaded guilty to six charges of breaching the Fair Trading Act and was fined $45,000 in the District Court in Auckland today.
1,014 views
The Commerce Commission has released its report on telecommunications markets in New Zealand covering the first six months of 2009.
247 views
The Commerce Commission has today released a review of the asset management plans disclosed by electricity distribution businesses for the period beginning 1 April 2009.
464 views
The Commerce Commission has released its 2008/09 draft determinations on the: cost of the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) for the hearing impaired; and the proportion of the cost to be met by each party liable to contribute to the cost of the TRS and Telecom New Zealand’s local residential telephone service obligation.
234 views
The Commerce Commission is issuing proceedings alleging that three separate loyalty offers made by Telecom Corporation of New Zealand Limited’s Wholesale business unit between December 2008 and July 2009 are likely to have breached its obligation not to discriminate between service providers under the Telecom Separation Undertakings.
316 views
Two more New Zealanders have admitted their part in a major international spamming operation and must pay substantial financial penalties.
398 views
The Commerce Commission today released guidelines on how applications for mergers and acquisitions involving the ‘failing firm’ argument will be treated.
1,149 views
AUCKLAND — The Commerce Commission has granted Marko Bogoievski an exemption under the Electricity Industry Reform Act 1998 (EIR Act) in relation to his potential appointment to the board of Auckland International Airport Limited (AIAL), an electricity lines business, subject to certain conditions.
684 views
The Commerce Commission has laid charges against Vodafone for alleged breaches of the Fair Trading Act 1986 in relation to various broadband and mobile phone promotions.
295 views
An Auckland-based importer has been warned by the Commerce Commission that a toy tool set imported from China and sold in budget variety stores may have breached an unsafe goods notice relating to levels of lead in children’s toys.
307 views
The Commerce Commission has welcomed the conviction and sentencing, Friday, of Stewart John Brown and Robert Llewelyn Parr.
333 views
An energy company has pleaded guilty to breaching the Fair Trading Act and has been fined $17,000 in the Tauranga District Court on Wednesday.
766 views
As part of its investigation into alleged breaches of the Separation Undertakings by Telecom’s Wholesale business unit, the Commerce Commission is seeking submissions on its preliminary views on the meaning of the ‘equivalence of inputs’ and ‘non-discrimination’ obligations contained in the Undertakings.
220 views
The High Court has found that Telecom (Telecom Corporation of New Zealand and Telecom New Zealand Limited) used its substantial market power to prevent and deter competition in markets involving high-speed data transmission.
414 views
The Commerce Commission has released its telecommunication service obligations (TSO) determination covering the 2006/07 year for Telecom’s local residential telephone service.
210 views
The Commerce Commission has reached separate agreements with seven financial institutions settling the Commission’s claims that they breached the Commerce Act, and ushering in a new competitive landscape for the credit card industry in New Zealand.
516 views
The Commerce Commission has received an application from Marko Bogoievski seeking exemption from section 17 of the Electricity Industry Reform Act 1998 (EIR Act) in relation to his nomination as Infratil Limited’s alternate director of Auckland International Airport Limited while Lloyd Morrison is on medical leave of absence.
276 views
The Commerce Commission today announced that it will commence an investigation into whether the services Telecom Corporation of New Zealand provides to other telecommunications companies to be resold should be deregulated.
240 views
The Commerce Commission has released its report on New Zealand broadband quality for the three months to June 2009.
735 views
The Commerce Commission has reported to the Minister for Communications and Information Technology on Sprint International New Zealand Limited’s performance in complying with the Telecommunications Service Obligations (TSO) Deed for Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) for the period from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009.
318 views
The Commerce Commission has advised the Minister for Communications and Information Technology that Telecom Corporation of New Zealand Limited has complied with all its Telecommunications Service Obligations (TSO) quality measures for the 2008/09 financial year.
444 views
The Commerce Commission has today released its draft decisions paper on the default price-quality paths to apply to electricity distribution businesses from 1 April 2010.
339 views
The Commerce Commission is seeking feedback from interested parties on its draft revised leniency policy on cartels.
216 views
The Commerce Commission will seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court in its case against Telecom Corporation of New Zealand Limited (Telecom) over Telecoms introduction of the 0867 dial-up prefix in 1999.
706 views
The Commerce Commission announced that it will not at this stage commence an investigation into whether regulation of the national mobile roaming service should be extended to include price.
586 views
INVERCARGILL — Three South Island companies involved in a scheme which misled people into believing that they were buying their own homes pleaded guilty to breaching the Fair Trading Act in the Invercargill District Court on 24 August.
1,397 views
The Commerce Commission has cleared Frucor Beverages Limited (Frucor) to acquire Simply Squeezed Holdings Ltd and/or Brownlie Brothers Ltd (Simply Squeezed).
427 views
The Commerce Commission and MasterCard International Incorporated (MasterCard) have signed an agreement settling the Commission’s claims that MasterCard’s credit card scheme rules providing for the payment of multilateral interchange fees, together with related rules, breached the restrictive trade practices provisions of the Commerce Act.
783 views
The Commerce Commission has granted clearance to Schering-Plough Corporation in respect of the proposed merger between Schering-Plough Corporation and Merck & Co., Inc.
317 views
The Commerce Commission has granted clearance for Pfizer Inc.
262 views
The Commerce Commission confirmed today that protection for confidential information under a confidentiality order in relation to commercial interconnection agreements provided by telecommunications companies for the Commission’s investigation into mobile termination rates will remain in place.
248 views
The Commerce Commission has signed an agreement with the Visa International Service Association and Visa Worldwide Pte Limited (Visa) settling the Commission’s claims against Visa in relation to credit card interchange fees.
318 views
INVERCARGILL — The Commerce Commission has settled with an Invercargill based pawnbroker over breaches of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCF Act) and the Fair Trading Act.
1,279 views
Information contained in a National Business Review article entitled Revealed: Vodafone’s secret deal with 2degrees potentially breached a Commerce Commission confidentiality order and section 100 of the Commerce Act.
520 views
The Commerce Commission is studying a decision by the Court of Appeal, released today, in a case brought by the Commerce Commission against Telecom Corporation of New Zealand Limited (Telecom) under section 36 of the Commerce Act.
322 views
The Commerce Commission has released draft guidelines to provide greater clarity for the telecommunications industry on how the Commission exercises its powers and functions under the Telecommunications Act.
164 views
The Commerce Commission has today released a discussion document which forms the first step in a consultation process to develop information disclosure requirements for the suppliers of regulated electricity lines, gas pipelines and specified airport services.
208 views
The Commerce Commission has today released guidelines which inform businesses about their obligations surrounding carbon offset and neutrality claims and how they are affected by the Fair Trading Act.
247 views
PALMERSTON NORTH — A Palmerston North man has pleaded guilty to breaching the Fair Trading Act by misleading consumers about the nature of a charity shop.
1,205 views
The Commerce Commission has published a statement of preliminary issues relating to an application seeking clearance received from Frucor Beverages Ltd (Frucor).
194 views
WAIKATO — A judge in the Auckland High Court confirmed yesterday that the money paid for tickets to the postponed airshow Wings and Wheels over Waikato was being held on trust by the airshow’s organisers and that the money should be used to pay refunds to entitled ticket holders.
658 views
A distributor of a range of imported products marketed as fruit juice has agreed to recall all their products after tests as part of a Commerce Commission investigation found that at least two of the products had inaccurate labels.
454 views
The Commerce Commission has concluded an investigation into the promotion and labelling of juice products by Brownlie Brothers Limited trading as Simply Squeezed, a juice manufacturing and distribution company.
488 views
The Commerce Commission has today released draft supplementary guidelines on how merger and acquisitions applications involving the ‘failing firm’ argument will be treated.
186 views
The Commerce Commission has received an application from Frucor Beverages Ltd seeking clearance to acquire Simply Squeezed Holdings Ltd.
347 views
The Epitiro/IDC report on New Zealand broadband quality for the March 2009 quarter has been released.
373 views