December 1997
1997: More court action, precedent cases and higher penalties
28 December 1997
1997 saw more court action being taken by the Commerce Commission, important legal precedents being set and higher penalties being imposed by courts.Relates to: Fair Trading
$10,000 fines for misleading Jeep ads
19 December 1997
Chrysler importer, Astre (NZ) Pty Limited was fined $10,000 in the Auckland District Court yesterday, after admitting it made misleading claims about the prices of Jeeps.Relates to: Fair Trading
Fair Trading breaches cost Enerco more than $14,500
18 December 1997
In the Auckland District Court today, Enerco New Zealand Limited admitted its "Buy Smart" and "Home Smart" gas promotions were misleading, pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay fines and costs totalling $14,535.Relates to: Fair Trading
Commission to prosecute BellSouth
18 December 1997
*On 27 November 1998 Rushton DCJ ruled that Bell South New Zealand was not in breach of the Fair Trading Act.*Relates to: Fair Trading
Appliance dealer admits Fair Trading breach
17 December 1997
Southland's largest appliance retailer, Rice Refrigeration Limited, has admitted that it breached the Fair Trading Act by making misleading claims about prices.Relates to: Fair Trading
Misleading subscription offers
14 December 1997
After a Commerce Commission investigation, three magazines, Fashion Quarterly, Cleo and She & More, will publish apologies for misleading consumers about subscription offers.Relates to: Fair Trading
NZ Office Products fined $5,000 for misleading prices
11 December 1997
A subsidiary of Blue Star Group, New Zealand Office Products Limited, has been fined $5,000 after admitting it breached the Fair Trading Act by making misleading claims about prices.Relates to: Fair Trading
Bicycle safety standard and Christmas shopping
6 December 1997
As the Commerce Commission ends an investigation involving a bicycle importer and distributor, it is warning anyone buying bicycles to check them carefully preferably before buying and certainly before the bicycles are ridden.Relates to: Fair Trading
Appeal fails – $12,000 pyramid selling penalties stand
5 December 1997
The Christchurch High Court has rejected an appeal by Leo van Dijk against his conviction and fine of $10,000 plus $2,000 costs for operating a pyramid selling scheme.Relates to: Fair Trading
November 1997
Big problem with cellphone promotions leads to more Commission court action
30 November 1997
"There is a big problem with cellphone promotions," Commerce Commission Chairman Dr Alan Bollard said today.Relates to: Fair Trading
Big competition issues face electricity industry
19 November 1997
The electricity industry is facing significant Commerce and Fair Trading Act issues, some of which are before the courts now, while others will hopefully be resolved without court action Commerce Commission Chairman Dr Alan Bollard said today.Relates to: Fair Trading
High Court injunction stops Stefan's misleading advertising
7 November 1997
The Wellington High Court yesterday imposed injunctions on Enza subsidiary, Stefan's Fresh Juice Company, promotions of orange juice, after finding that the promotions were misleading and breached the Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
Fine print: We will give you a loan for a fee of up to only $500*
5 November 1997
This example of fine print in advertising is real. It is from one of the Commerce Commission cases being discussed today at a seminar about advertising regulation, being run by the Commission and the advertising industry.Relates to: Fair Trading
October 1997
What you see is what you get – and a refund offer Commission settlement with Revlon
31 October 1997
As part of a settlement with the Commerce Commission, Revlon New Zealand Limited is publishing corrective advertising to ensure that what its customers see is what they get, and is offering dissatisfied customers a refund.Relates to: Fair Trading
Commission investigating claims about food
30 October 1997
The Commerce Commission is continuing its investigation into food labelling and promotional material.Relates to: Fair Trading
Ben Rumble fined $8,000 for Fair Trading breach
9 October 1997
Commerce Commission action against misleading cellphone promotions continued today with the Christchurch District Court fining Ben Rumble Communications Limited and Bennie Arthur Rumble a total of $8,000 for breaching the Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
Cellphone company admits Fair Trading breach: Commission says industry must clean up its act
8 October 1997
Hart Candy Communications Ltd has admitted that its advertising of cellphones breached the Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
September 1997
Commission report raises issues about court actions
18 September 1997
Several issues affecting Commerce Commission court actions are among those raised in the Commission's annual report tabled in Parliament today.Relates to: Fair Trading
Tauranga businesses to meet Commerce Commission and Ministry of Consumer Affairs
10 September 1997
The Commerce Commission and Ministry of Consumer Affairs will be visiting Tauranga on Monday September 15 to Wednesday September 17 to visit shops and businesses to discuss the Fair Trading and Consumer Guarantees Acts and other consumer protection issues.Relates to: Fair Trading
Korean officials visit NZ to study competition law
3 September 1997
A five-member Korean government delegation will meet the Commerce Commission tomorrow to study New Zealand's competition law, the Commerce and Fair Trading Acts.Relates to: Fair Trading
August 1997
Black Magic pyramid selling penalties total $29,000
29 August 1997
A further Commerce Commission prosecution has brought the total fines and costs imposed on people involved in the Black Magic pyramid selling scheme to $29,000.Relates to: Fair Trading
Accent Holidays misled public to promote time shares
29 August 1997
The Auckland District Court was today strongly critical of Accent Holidays Ltd when it fined it $25,000 for breaching the Fair Trading Act by making misleading claims to promote time shares.Relates to: Fair Trading
Scam costing NZ business $millions
21 August 1997
"False invoices", "proforma invoicing", "rogue publishing", and telefraud - it goes by various names, but it is all a scam that is costing New Zealand businesses millions of dollars a year.Relates to: Fair Trading
False claims that seaweed soap causes weight loss
17 August 1997
The Commerce Commission said today that, in its view, the distributor of Soft Seaweed Soap, SCI Natural (NZ) Ltd, had made false claims that the soap would help people lose weight, and may have breached the Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
Commission withdraws warnings
8 August 1997
The Commission has withdrawn the warnings given to Alpine Energy Limited, Dunedin Electricity Ltd, Electricity Invercargill Ltd and The Power Company Ltd concerning attempts to contract out of the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993.Relates to: Fair Trading
Significant Penalty applied in Job Advert Case
5 August 1997
In the first significant case involving employment advertising under the Fair Trading Act, a Christchurch District Court judge yesterday fined the Prudential Assurance Company of New Zealand Ltd a total of $23,000.Relates to: Fair Trading
July 1997
Commission settlement – Les Mills changes TV advertising
29 July 1997
As part of a settlement with the Commerce Commission, Les Mills World of Fitness has changed its television advertising to ensure that it does not mislead potential members about joining fees.Relates to: Fair Trading
Commerce Commission – compliance through enforcement, surveillance, education
28 July 1997
The Commerce Commission intends to further increase compliance with the Commerce and Fair Trading Acts through a mix of enforcement action, surveillance and education in the 1997-1998 financial year (1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998).Relates to: Fair Trading
Commission warns 29 power companies
25 July 1997
The Commerce Commission has warned 29 power companies that their contracts for domestic consumers are at risk of breaching the Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
Precedent case – promoting pyramid scheme costs $12,000
23 July 1997
The Christchurch District Court today fined Leo Van Dijk $10,000, plus $2,000 solicitor's costs, for breaching the Fair Trading Act by promoting a pyramid selling scheme known variously as "Black Magic", "Magic 95" and "Black Magic 95".Relates to: Fair Trading
June 1997
Commission settlement:
29 June 1997
After a Commerce Commission investigation into misleading claims about fat content, Woolworths (NZ) Limited has changed the way it labels and checks meat.Relates to: Fair Trading
Court makes big change to recommended retail price promotions
26 June 1997
Analysis of comments made by Judge Green in sentencing Bond and Bond to a record $63,000 Fair Trading Act fine shows that his decision makes a significant change to when using recommended retail prices is misleading and a breach of the Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
Warning: Endeavour retirement plan includes pyramid selling
11 June 1997
The Commerce Commission has warned Endeavour International Ltd that the company's retirement savings scheme, the Endeavour Plan, risks breaching the Fair Trading Act because it includes pyramid selling.Relates to: Fair Trading
May 1997
Commission finds no evidence that Xtra breaches
29 May 1997
The Commerce Commission has found no evidence that Telecom's Internet service provider (ISP), Xtra, is breaching the Commerce Act by offering below cost access to the Internet.Relates to: Fair Trading
Record fine imposed on Bond and Bond $63,000
8 May 1997
The Christchurch District Court has imposed the highest fine yet under the Fair Trading Act, $63,000, on Bond and Bond Limited after the company admitted breaching the Act by running a series of misleading advertising campaigns.Relates to: Fair Trading
Ford admits Fair Trading breach pays refunds
5 May 1997
As part of a settlement with the Commerce Commission, Ford Motor Company of New Zealand Limited has admitted its Shoctober promotion breached the Fair Trading Act because extra costs were not explained, and is paying refunds to 121 customers.Relates to: Fair Trading
The Fair Trading Act A Guide for Advertisers and Traders
1 May 1997
The Commerce Commission has published what is the only detailed plain English guide to the Fair Trading Act intended specifically for people running their own businesses, managers and anyone else responsible for day-to-day business decisions.Relates to: Fair Trading
April 1997
Bond and Bond increased prices for special promotion
29 April 1997
Bond and Bond Limited admitted in the Christchurch District Court that a series of advertising campaigns running for four months was misleading and breached the Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
Commission warns pharmacists about weight loss products
6 April 1997
As part of an investigation focusing on weight loss products, the Commerce Commission has warned pharmacists that they risk breaching the Fair Trading Act if they promote weight loss products that do not work.Relates to: Fair Trading
March 1997
Commission investigations in food industry
25 March 1997
The Commerce Commission is continuing investigations and enforcement action in the food industry, Commission Fair Trading Manager Rachel Leamy told industry representatives today.Relates to: Fair Trading
Factual statements about food can be misleading
18 March 1997
The conviction of Pacific Dunlop Holdings (NZ) Limited for making misleading claims about Plumrose Light Deli Ham sets a significant precedent for the food industry - a factually correct statement can still be misleading and breach the Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
Electronic commerce raises Fair Trading issues
17 March 1997
Electronic commerce is giving the Commerce Commission many new enforcement issues to solve, but the scams and misrepresentations appear to be much the same as those made via traditional media.Relates to: Fair Trading
Pyramid selling warning
12 March 1997
As the Commerce Commission begins court action against two New Zealand based pyramid selling schemes, it is warning people that pyramid selling is illegal.Relates to: Fair Trading
Rotorua businesses to meet Commerce Commission and Ministry of Consumer Affairs
12 March 1997
The Commerce Commission and Ministry of Consumer Affairs are inviting all Rotorua business people to a seminar about the Fair Trading Act and the Consumer Guarantees Act on Wednesday March 19.Relates to: Fair Trading
Commission targets weight loss products
2 March 1997
Claims made about weight loss products are going to get close scrutiny from the Commerce Commission over the next few months.Relates to: Fair Trading
February 1997
Wanganui businesses to meet Commerce Commission and Occupational Safety and Health
26 February 1997
The Commerce Commission and the Department of Labour are inviting all Wanganui business people to a seminar about the Fair Trading Act and the Health and Safety in Employment Act on Wednesday March 5.Relates to: Fair Trading
Judge said Edge knew components were dummies
24 February 1997
The Commerce Commission said today that it is concerned that misleading statements have been reported about the Edge Computer Ltd prosecution.Relates to: Fair Trading
Record fine imposed on Edge – $50,000
20 February 1997
The Wellington District Court today imposed the highest single fine yet under the Fair Trading Act, when it fined Edge Computer Ltd $50,000 for selling computer components which did not have the memory claimed for them.Relates to: Fair Trading
Edge sold dummy computer motherboards
17 February 1997
In what is believed to be the first successful prosecution of its type in the world, Edge Computer Ltd has admitted breaching the Fair Trading Act by selling computer motherboards which did not have the memory claimed for them.Relates to: Fair Trading
Boots Healthcare identifies problem with sunscreen label
14 February 1997
Sunscreen manufacturer, Boots Healthcare, voluntarily came to the Commerce Commission because it was concerned about the labelling of one of its own sunscreens, Tripleguard SPF 50+.Relates to: Fair Trading
