Commerce Commission

The Commerce Commission enforces competition, fair trading and consumer credit contracts laws and has regulatory responsibilities in the electricity lines, gas pipelines, telecommunications, dairy and airport sectors. The Commission considers complaints about interferences with the following laws:

• Commerce Act, which prohibits anti-competitive mergers and behaviour, and regulates markets where there is little or no competition; 
• Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act, which protects consumers when they borrow money or buy goods on credit; 
• Dairy Industry Restructuring Act, which, amongst other things, promotes the efficient operation of dairy markets in New Zealand by regulating the activities of Fonterra;  
• Fair Trading Act, which prohibits false and misleading behaviour by businesses; 
• Fuel Industry Act, which regulates engine fuel markets in order to promote competition; and 
• Telecommunications Act, which regulates the supply of telecommunications services and the operation of telecommunications networks.