Viewing entries posted in December 2012 | View all entries
Changes and new leadership within Competition Branch
Published on 27 May 2013
The Commerce Commission’s Competition Branch is responsible for enforcing the legislation that promotes competition in New Zealand markets and prohibits misleading and deceptive conduct by traders. This includes investigating breaches of the Commerce, Fair Trading and Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Acts, as well as providing information and guidance to businesses and consumers about these Acts and how they apply.
The 2013/14 year ahead
Published on 27 May 2013
As we approach the start of a new business year, our Chairman Dr Mark Berry discusses what’s in store for the Commission.
Stakeholder presentation to the Energy Trusts of New Zealand
Published on 27 May 2013
Dr John Hamill, General Manager Regulation, recently spoke to the Energy Trusts of New Zealand (ETNZ) about the Commerce Commission’s regulatory work in the electricity lines market. The ETNZ is the national organisation for 21 energy trusts, the majority of whom own shares in companies that operate electricity networks (lines businesses).
Conference speakers
Published on 29 April 2013
We have secured some fantastic international speakers for our first competition and regulation public conference, Competition Matters.
Looking ahead to 2013
Published on 28 January 2013
The Commission has an exciting and busy year ahead with legislative changes in the consumer area while in the competition arena new legislation will impact our work on cartels. We look forward to a number of 'firsts' in 2013 as new regulatory regimes are bedded in across the energy, dairy and telecommunications industries. CEO Brent Alderton outlines the year ahead.
A more engaging approach to supporting compliance
Published on 29 April 2013
We recently ran two seminars to help regulated suppliers get up to speed with our new information disclosure requirements for electricity distributors and gas pipeline businesses. They created a lot of interest, and set a path for how we will engage with stakeholdersin future, to help improve compliance.
Competition Matters – advance notice of Commission conference
Published on 25 March 2013
The Commission’s first competition and regulation public conference will be held in Wellington on 17 and 18 October 2013
A new level of cooperation with the ACCC
Published on 25 March 2013
Trans-Tasman cooperation has reached a new height with the signing of a cooperation arrangement between the Commerce Commission and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
How much are electricity distributors investing and planning to invest?
Published on 25 March 2013
Efficient investment in infrastructure is critical for the long term benefit of consumers in the New Zealand economy. In this article we provide some high level observations about past and possible future trends of investment in the electricity distribution sector.
Commission prepares for biggest consumer law reform in decades
Published on 25 February 2013
The Commission intends to be ready to fully implement the changes to the Fair Trading Act on the date they come into force, and expects businesses to be ready too.
Surveys show health professionals will benefit from competition and consumer law guidance
Published on 25 February 2013
Recent surveys undertaken with a number of health professional groups, show professionals working in the health and disability sector will benefit from the guidance materials currently under development by the Commission.
2012 achievements
Published on 20 December 2012
The Commerce Commission has ended the year with a welcome Christmas present for former Credit Sails investors after a $60 million settlement with the companies involved. It was a very satisfying way to end a busy year. Here’s a quick look back at our year.
Web-based traders a growth area for complaints to Commerce Commission
Published on 28 January 2013
The growing trend to buy products and services online is spurring a significant growth in complaints to the Commerce Commission about online traders. It’s one of several trends identified in analysis of statistics from the Commission’s Contact Centre for the 2012 year. And more of those complaints are being filed with the Commission online.
Feedback from our (Part 4) regulated industry stakeholders
Published on 20 December 2012
The Commission is committed to improving its relationships with key stakeholders, including providing opportunities to give us feedback.
Protecting consumers worldwide
Published on 20 December 2012
We all know that the world has become a global village. While this brings huge opportunity for its citizens, it can present serious challenges when it comes to enforcing the law. That’s why the Commerce Commission plays its part in the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN). Yvette Popovic, Chief Adviser, Competition Branch reports back from the latest ICPEN conference.
Credit SaILS – new milestone under the Fair Trading Act
Published on 20 December 2012
The Commerce Commission’s $60 million settlement in the Credit SaILS investigation, announced this week, is a reward for investors’ patience. We hope that investors feel that the wait has been worthwhile. Commission Chair Dr Mark Berry shares his observations of the case which set a new record for a Fair Trading Act settlement.
First customised price-quality path proposals expected in 2013
Published on 23 November 2012
The Commission expects to receive the first proposals for customised price-quality paths (CPPs) from electricity distribution businesses in early 2013.
Supreme Court ruling - message from the Chair
Published on 23 November 2012
Last week we received a much anticipated ruling from the Supreme Court following a challenge by Vector to our decision not to set a starting price input methodology for electricity distribution and gas pipeline services.
Credit contracts - improving compliance
Published on 23 November 2012
Increasing numbers of complaints relating to ‘hardship’, and a decline in complaints about bank credit cards are just two of the trends we’ve noted following a review of complaints under the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act (CCCF Act). The analysis was done to inform the Commission’s future education and enforcement efforts in relation to the CCCF Act.
Launch of new Enforcement Response Guidelines
Published on 23 November 2012
The Commission is committed to increasing transparency about its work, and understanding of its decision-making processes. The publication of our new Enforcement Response Guidelines today is a further step in that direction.
Spotlight on the Christchurch rebuild
Published on 19 October 2012
With billions of dollars at stake in the Christchurch rebuild, the Commerce Commission is turning its attention to assisting those involved in the reconstruction to understand and avoid being part of anti-competitive activities such as collusion, bid rigging or price fixing.
Introducing Elisabeth Welson – our newest Commissioner
Published on 19 October 2012
The Commerce Commission has welcomed a new Associate Commissioner into its ranks.
Our achievements in 2011/12
Published on 19 October 2012
Our Annual Report will shortly be tabled in Parliament. 2011/12 was another successful year for us in which we made real progress towards achieving our goals of more competitive markets, better informed consumers, and better targeted and more effective regulation.
Our submission on proposed changes to the Commerce Act
Published on 21 September 2012
The Commission has recently given its views on proposed changes to the Commerce Act. The Commerce (Cartels and Other Matters) Amendment Bill proposes significant changes to the price fixing prohibition and other amendments to the Commerce Act on a range of issues, from jurisdiction to merger enforcement.
Measuring our impact
Published on 21 September 2012
How does an agency such as the Commerce Commission show that it is achieving what it is supposed to? During a recent visit to New Zealand, leading competition law academic and former head of the US Federal Trade Commission, Professor William Kovacic tackled this question.
Educating health professionals on competition and consumer laws
Published on 21 September 2012
The Commerce Commission has a new initiative aimed at lifting understanding of how competition and consumer laws are applied in the health and disability sector. It’s part of our growing focus on using advocacy as a means of raising levels of awareness of the benefits of competition and through this, raising levels of compliance with competition and consumer laws.
