December 2001
Trader agrees to recall bicycles that do not comply with safety regulations.
21 December 2001
King Cargo Limited, an itinerant trader currently trading in Masterton and possibly Levin, will be recalling Trans brand BMX and mountain bikes as a result of a Commerce Commission investigation.Relates to: Fair Trading
Defunct computer retailer Gateway pleads guilty to breaching the Fair Trading Act: fined $21,000
14 December 2001
A second conviction for false and misleading advertising has cost defunct computer retailer Gateway New Zealand Limited $21,000 in the Auckland District Court.Relates to: Fair Trading
November 2001
Non disclosure in advertising costs Repco $5,500
29 November 2001
Non disclosure of a daily fee and failing to mention that the advertised cell-phones were second hand has cost Pacific Dunlop Holdings Limited, trading as Repco, $5,500 in the Auckland District Court.Relates to: Fair Trading
New Zealanders advised to review all direct debits with travel club Crownstar International (NZ) Limited
24 November 2001
The Commerce Commission strongly advises New Zealanders who have direct debit contracts with Auckland based travel club company Crownstar International (NZ) Limited to review their contractual arrangements as the company's activities may be in breach of the Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
New Zealand Breweries admits breach of Fair Trading Act over Speight's beer labels
18 November 2001
New Zealand Breweries Limited today acknowledged that wording on its 330ml bottles, cans, and packaging of Speight's Gold Medal Ale beer was in breach of the Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
Orewa real estate agent pleads guilty to the misleading use of photographs to sell a property
16 November 2001
The use of misleading photographs in its promotion of a property for sale has cost Orewa real estate agent Olsen and Everson Ltd, trading as Olsen-Everson, $2,750 in the North Shore District Court.Relates to: Fair Trading
Not so "free" internet service costs Clear Communications $15,000
9 November 2001
Claims that were liable to mislead consumers over its "free" internet service have cost Clear Communications $15,000 in the North Shore District Court.Relates to: Fair Trading
Misleading claims over its success at auctions costs Harveys Estate Agents $3,000
7 November 2001
Misleading the public over its success with auctions recently cost John Coxhead Realty Limited, trading as Harveys Estate Agents-Auctioneers, $3,000 in the Morrinsville District Court.Relates to: Fair Trading
October 2001
Acknowledgement of a breach ends in Commerce Commission settlement for DB Breweries
12 October 2001
DB Breweries' unequivocal acknowledgement that it breached the Fair Trading Act over mislabelling on its beer products and its immediate response to correct the breach were significant factors in the Commerce Commission's decision to settle with the Auckland-based brewing company.Relates to: Fair Trading
Rental car companies pay the price formisleading advertising in the Yellow Pages
4 October 2001
Misleading advertising in the yellow pages has cost two Christchurch based rental car companies a total of $9,000 in the Christchurch District Court.Relates to: Fair Trading
Responsibility lies with all businesses
2 October 2001
A message to all businesses: You are responsible for the actions of your staff, which includes employees, agents and contractors, says Commerce Commission's Fair Trading Director Deb Battell.Relates to: Fair Trading
September 2001
Substantial untruths told in advertising:Quantum Prestige Limited fined $17,500
14 September 2001
A "substantial untruth was contained in all the advertising" offered as evidence against Quantum Prestige Limited said Judge Doogue in the Auckland District Court today.Relates to: Fair Trading
Commission concerned about industry reputation: Sails Realty Limited prosecuted
11 September 2001
Misleading information has the potential to bring any industry into disrepute and the Commerce Commission is concerned the actions of a few could cost the entire Real Estate industry over time.Relates to: Fair Trading
When is a scallop not a scallop?
7 September 2001
Consumers must be able to rely on food labels and packaging says the Commerce Commission after today's prosecution of Browns of Barrington Ltd in the Christchurch District Court.Relates to: Fair Trading
July 2001
Important precedent for retailers and distributors: High Court finds that novelty containers can be toys —toy safety standard can apply to them
30 July 2001
A recent Dunedin High Court decision has set an important precedent for retailers and distributors: novelty containers can be toys and the product safety standard for toys can apply to them.Relates to: Fair Trading
John Monk Trading fined $12,000 for importing more than 1,500 dangerous toys
24 July 2001
The Christchurch District Court today fined John Monk Trading Co Limited $12,000 for importing 1,512 babies' rattles that were a choking hazard to young children.Relates to: Fair Trading
May 2001
Signature Security Systems fined $10,500 for misleading advertising in Yellow Pages
30 May 2001
The Christchurch District Court today fined one of the country's biggest security firms, Signature Security Systems Limited, $10,500 for making misleading claims about the cost of its monitored alarms.Relates to: Fair Trading
Third car dealer fined under Fair Trading Act in nine days: ABC Motor Group fined $13,500
30 May 2001
When the Auckland District Court fined ABC Motor Group Limited $13,500 today, it was the third car dealer fined in nine days for breaching the Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
$14,000 in fines for Ford dealers set Fair Trading precedents for newspaper, magazine and other print advertising
21 May 2001
"The Commerce Commission's view, that newspaper, magazine and other print advertising cannot use small print to correct a misleading claim, had not previously been tested in court," said Commission Chair John Belgrave. "All previous convictions had involved either guilty pleas or television advertising.Relates to: Fair Trading
Harvey Norman fined $7,500 for misleading claims about computer screens: advertisers must understand technical terms that they use
11 May 2001
The conviction and fining of Harvey Norman Stores (NZ) Pty Limited in the Manukau District Court today is a warning to all advertisers who use technical terms: they must understand what the terms mean.Relates to: Fair Trading
Commerce Commission will visit stores to check cots
9 May 2001
Commerce Commission staff will be visiting shops today to check that cots are not dangerous to infants.Relates to: Fair Trading
A warning: Commerce Commission follows up all settlements; Redpath International fined $5,0
8 May 2001
Not honouring a settlement with the Commerce Commission has led to furniture retailer Redpath International Limited being fined $5,000 for breaching the Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
April 2001
Vodafone refunds $35,000: message to all advertisers, inadvertently breaching Fair Trading Act is not a defence
18 April 2001
Responding to a Commerce Commission investigation, Vodafone New Zealand Limited has refunded a total of $35,000 to customers that it had overcharged for cellphone text messages.Relates to: Fair Trading
Kmart and Atlas Imports offer refunds for misleading claims about "genuine" leather belts: possible industry-wide problem
10 April 2001
As part of a settlement with the Commerce Commission, Coles Myer New Zealand Holdings Limited, which trades as Kmart New Zealand, and Atlas Imports Pty Limited today offered refunds and started corrective advertising for making misleading claims that six styles of men's belts were "leather" or "genuine leather".Relates to: Fair Trading
Mitre 10 fined $13,500 for false claims about prices: warning to all chain stores about prices in branches
5 April 2001
Distributing more than a million copies of a booklet that included false claims about prices led to Mitre 10 (New Zealand) Limited being fined $13,500 in the Auckland District Court today.Relates to: Fair Trading
March 2001
Shanton factory store admits "no refund" sign breached Fair Trading Act: warning to all factory stores
27 March 2001
An admission by Shanton Apparel (NZ) Limited that the "no refund" sign at its "factory" store breached the Fair Trading Act is a timely warning to all factory stores that they must offer consumers refunds for faulty goods.Relates to: Fair Trading
Thousands of dozens of "free range" eggs were from battery hens: Weedons Poultry Farm fined $35,000
15 March 2001
Misleading claims that eggs were "free range", when they really came from battery hens kept in cages, cost Weedons Poultry Farm a $35,000 fine in the Christchurch District Court today.Relates to: Fair Trading
Third promoter prosecuted over "World Net" pyramid selling scheme, more prosecutions pending
2 March 2001
Commerce Commission action against the World Net pyramid selling scheme has continued with the Auckland District Court fining Gregory Paul Williamson $4,000 for promoting the scheme.Relates to: Fair Trading
Distributor admits that Powermax magnetic water conditioner had no effect on bacteria and parasites
1 March 2001
The distributor of the Powermax magnetic water conditioner, Julian's Electrical & Energy Conservation Limited, has admitted in the New Plymouth High Court that Powermax does not and cannot eliminate bacteria and parasites from water.Relates to: Fair Trading
February 2001
Second promoter prosecuted over "World Net" pyramid selling scheme, more prosecutions pending
15 February 2001
Commerce Commission action against the World Net pyramid selling scheme has continued with the Auckland District Court fining Kevin Leslie Bryson $2,500 for promoting the scheme.Relates to: Fair Trading
January 2001
$7,000 fine for car dealer: message to all advertisers, "free" must mean no extra cost
16 January 2001
Charging up to $2,000 for what it described as "free" warranties cost car dealer Greymouth Car Centre Limited a $7,000 fine in the Greymouth District Court today. Court costs of $130.00 and Solicitors fees of $500 were also imposed.Relates to: Fair Trading
