December 1995
1995, the year of prices – false, misleading or fixed
28 December 1995
One problem that the Commerce Commission found occurring again and again in 1995 was illegal pricing.Relates to: Fair Trading
ACP cleared to buy Wilson and Horton magazines
22 December 1995
The Commerce Commission has cleared Australian Consolidated Press NZ Ltd (ACP) to buy two magazines published by Wilson and Horton, the Listener and New Zealand Woman's Weekly.Relates to:
Commission not opposed to electricity arrangements
20 December 1995
The Commerce Commission's preliminary view is that two arrangements proposed for the period up to the establishment of a competitive wholesale electricity market on October 1 next year are unlikely to have any detrimental anti-competitive effects.Relates to: Business Competition
Refunds, exchanges and Christmas
18 December 1995
The Commerce Commission is warning people that in some cases they may not be able to get refunds or exchanges for gifts.Relates to: Fair Trading
CHH cleared to buy Forestry Corp
12 December 1995
The Commerce Commission today cleared Carter Holt Harvey (CHH) to acquire up to 100 percent of Forestry Corporation of New Zealand's Central North Island assets or up to 100 percent of its shares.Relates to:
Air New Zealand/Ansett authorisation timetable
8 December 1995
The Commerce Commission today announced its timetable for considering Air New Zealand's application to buy Ansett Australia shares.Relates to:
Air New Zealand/Ansett
1 December 1995
The Commerce Commission today received an application by Air New Zealand under s 67 of the Commerce Act 1986. The application relates to the proposed acquisition by Air New Zealand of 25% of Ansett Australia, currently held by TNT, with a call option for a further 25%.Relates to:
November 1995
$2,000 fine for false price claim
29 November 1995
An Auckland appliance retailer, 2M Corporation, was fined $2,000 plus court costs in the Auckland District Court today for misrepresenting the price of television sets.Relates to: Fair Trading
Product safety and Christmas shopping
26 November 1995
With Christmas shopping starting, the Commerce Commission is warning consumers about product safety standards.Relates to: Fair Trading
Warehouse to pay $3,000 for false claims about bicycles
24 November 1995
Repeating false claims about the bicycle safety standard cost the Warehouse $3,000 in the Wellington District Court today.Relates to: Fair Trading
Commission says get advice about business acquisitions
22 November 1995
The Commerce Commission expects companies to exercise their judgement and to contact it if they are unsure about business acquisitions they may become involved in.Relates to:
Commission asked to authorise electricity agreements
21 November 1995
The Commerce Commission has been asked to authorise two agreements relating to the sale of electricity in the period before the wholesale electricity market becomes fully-operative in October next year.Relates to: Business Competition
Commission staff visit Hamilton and Cambridge shops
20 November 1995
Commerce Commission staff will be visiting shops and speaking at meetings in Hamilton and Cambridge this week.Relates to: Fair Trading
Court sets precedent for all retailers interest free price must be same as cash price
17 November 1995
In the first defended case of its kind, the Auckland District Court has today defined when so called interest "free" offers are misleading and breach the Fair Trading Act.Relates to:
Wormald cleared to acquire Carbonic fire equipment assets
17 November 1995
The Commerce Commission today cleared Wormald New Zealand Ltd to acquire the assets of the fire equipment division of Carbonic Industries Ltd.Relates to:
Second false timber grade conviction costs Benchmark $1000
13 November 1995
Benchmark Building Supplies Ltd has been fined $1000 today for its second conviction for selling falsely graded timber.Relates to: Fair Trading
Horizon Pacific cleared to acquire CTV
9 November 1995
The Commerce Commission today cleared TVNZ's subsidiary, Horizon Pacific Television Limited, to acquire the assets of CTV.Relates to:
Manager forgot about Commission warning company fined $1,000
8 November 1995
Having a manager forget about a Commerce Commission warning has led to a wholesaler which supplied retailers throughout New Zealand, Butlers Equestrian Supplies Ltd, being fined $1,000 for breaching the Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
United Environmental Group cleared to acquire Wiri waste processing plant
3 November 1995
The Commerce Commission has cleared United Environmental Group Ltd toRelates to:
October 1995
Air New Zealand/Ansett
27 October 1995
The Commerce Commission is continuing to monitor discussions between Air New Zealand and other parties which might lead to Air New Zealand acquiring an interest in Ansett Australia.Relates to:
Commission clears Aspak to buy Abels' industrial fats business
13 October 1995
The Commerce Commission has cleared Aspak Foods Ltd to acquire the Abels' industrial fats and oils business, a division of Unilever NZ Ltd.Relates to:
J Wattie Foods cleared to acquire Kraft businesses
13 October 1995
The Commerce Commission has today cleared J Wattie Foods Ltd to acquire four business units operated by Kraft General Foods New Zealand Ltd.Relates to:
Tiong Group cleared to acquire Salmond Smith Biolab
10 October 1995
The Commerce Commission today cleared the Tiong Group's subsidiary Karamea Holdings to acquire 100 percent of the shares in Salmond Smith Biolab (SSB).Relates to:
Australians hear how reforms benefit NZ international trade
1 October 1995
The combination of competition and trade policy reform has put New Zealand in a strong position to take advantage of increasing international opportunities, particularly in fast growing South-East Asian markets, Australian economists are being told by Commerce Commission Chairman Dr Alan Bollard.Relates to:
September 1995
Lawyer and company fined $20,000 for misleading land buyers
28 September 1995
A Christchurch lawyer, John Rutherford and a company of which he is a director, Rural Management Limited, have been fined a total of $20,000 for misleading people about land being sub-divided.Relates to: Fair Trading
Court of Appeal landmark decision defines "free"
28 September 1995
In a landmark decision that has implications for all retailers in New Zealand, the Court of Appeal yesterday defined when so called "free" promotions are misleading under the Fair Trading Act.Relates to: Fair Trading
Telecom/Sky proposal cleared
26 September 1995
The Commerce Commission today cleared a proposal which would result in Telecom acquiring a 25 percent interest in Sky Network Television.Relates to:
Property developer undertakes to stop taking on new customers
21 September 1995
Auckland property developer, Lifeforce 2000 Limited, yesterday gave undertakings to the High Court that it will stop taking on new customers until it has registered a prospectus that accurately explains its scheme.Relates to: Fair Trading
Telecom/Sky conference begins tomorrow
12 September 1995
The Commerce Commission conference to consider Telecom's proposal to take a 25 percent interest in Sky Network Television begins in Wellington tomorrow.Relates to:
Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission cleared to acquire Salmond Smith Biolab
7 September 1995
The Commerce Commission today cleared the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission to acquire up to 100 percent of the shares in Salmond Smith Biolab (SSB) or all of SSB's fishing assets.Relates to:
Diary note to Chief Reporter/News Editor Telecom/Sky conference
6 September 1995
*Date*September 13-14Relates to:
Ignoring Commission warnings leads to prosecution
4 September 1995
Ignoring two earlier Commerce Commission warnings led to a Feilding fish shop being prosecuted by the Commerce Commission and fined $845 (including costs) in the Palmerston North District Court today.Relates to: Fair Trading
August 1995
Canon admits breach of Commerce Act
31 August 1995
Canon New Zealand Limited has admitted breaching the Commerce Act by trying to prevent Edge Computers discounting printers.Relates to: Business Competition
Revised health contracts satisfy Commission
29 August 1995
The Commerce Commission said today it has considered Midland RHA's and Health Waikato's revised mental health services contracts and is satisfied they are unlikely to breach the Commerce Act.Relates to: Business Competition
Tourist companies stop fixing commission rates
28 August 1995
A group of tourist industry companies has settled with the Commerce Commission, signing an undertaking to stop price fixing by setting standard commission rates.Relates to: Business Competition
Commerce Commission takes tougher enforcement line
26 August 1995
The perception in the business community that the Commerce Commission is taking a harder line in enforcing the Commerce Act is correct Commission Chairman, Dr Alan Bollard, said today.Relates to: Business Competition
Selling dangerous bicycle costs Deka $10,000
23 August 1995
For its second breach of a product safety standard in less than a year, Deka New Zealand Limited has been fined $10,000 after admitted selling a dangerous bicycle in the North Shore District Court today.Relates to: Fair Trading
Franco Burrone shoes – made in Italy or Australia?
15 August 1995
A Wellington shoe shop, Ashley Ardrey, has been fined $1,000 for selling Franco Burrone shoes with no country of origin labels despite an earlier warning from the Commerce Commission.Relates to: Fair Trading
Lawyer and company misled buyers about sub-division
15 August 1995
A Christchurch lawyer, John Rutherford, and a company of which he is a director, Rural Management Limited, have been found guilty of misleading people about land being subdivided.Relates to: Fair Trading
Dress for Less fined $6,500 children's night clothes were fire danger
14 August 1995
Dress for Less has been fined $6,500 for selling clothes which did not meet the children's night clothes safety standard, after it was warned by the Commerce Commission.Relates to: Fair Trading
Time extended in Telecom/Sky clearance
14 August 1995
The Commerce Commission and Telecom have agreed to a further extension of time before the Commission decides on a proposal which would give Telecom a 25 percent shareholding in Sky.Relates to:
Ford dealer fined $2,000 for misleading price ads
7 August 1995
A Christchurch Ford dealer, Team Hutchinson Ford, has been fined $2,000 for misleading people about the price of cars after a warning from the Commerce Commission.Relates to: Fair Trading
Commission declines to authorise health contracts
2 August 1995
In the first case of its kind, the Commerce Commission has said it cannot authorise mental health contracts Health Waikato and Midland Regional Health Authority have asked it to consider.Relates to: Business Competition
Commission authorises futures exchange rules
1 August 1995
The Commerce Commission has authorised amended by-laws for the Sydney Futures Exchange Clearing House (SFECH).Relates to: Business Competition
July 1995
Commission Chairman leads APEC debate on competition law
21 July 1995
Commerce Commission Chairman, Dr Alan Bollard, will chair an Asia Pacific EconomicRelates to:
Warehouse fined record $20,000 for selling unsafe bicycles
14 July 1995
The Warehouse has been fined $20,000 after admitting selling unsafe bicycles despite an earlier warning from the Commerce Commission. The case was heard in the Auckland District Court today.Relates to: Fair Trading
Commission preliminary decision: authorise futures exchange rules
12 July 1995
The Commerce Commission has said its preliminary view is that it will authorise amended by-laws for the Sydney Futures Exchange Clearing House (SFECH).Relates to: Business Competition
Two lawyers admit price fixing
12 July 1995
Two South Auckland lawyers, Mr J M Strong and Mr B R B Abraham, have entered into a settlement with the Commerce Commission after admitting they attempted to fix prices for conveyancing fees.Relates to: Business Competition
June 1995
11 submissions on health contract authorisation
23 June 1995
The Commerce Commission had received 11 submissions on the proposed Waikato Health and Midland Health mental health contracts by yesterday evening.Relates to:
Ford dealer fined record $50,000 for calling used cars new
9 June 1995
Invercargill Ford dealer, Macaulay Motors Limited, has been fined $50,000 for calling used cars new in the Invercargill District Court today.Relates to: Fair Trading
Commission not yet able to authorise Waikato health contracts
8 June 1995
The Commerce Commission said today, that based on the information currently available to it, at this stage it could not authorise the Health Waikato and Midland Health mental health services and facilities contracts.Relates to:
Commission wins $500,000 penalties against Port Nelson Limited
2 June 1995
The High Court today ordered Port Nelson Limited to pay penalties totalling $500,000 for three breaches of the Commerce Act. This is the highest total yet imposed under this Act on a single company.Relates to: Business Competition
Huge demand for information about illegal signs and questionable business practices
2 June 1995
After only four days the Commerce Commission is having to print more copies of its booklet which lists signs that break the law and business practices that risk breaking the law.Relates to: Fair Trading
May 1995
Commission lists illegal signs and questionable business practices
27 May 1995
The Commerce Commission has published lists of common business signs that break the law, and common terms of trade, contracts, and business practices that risk breaking the law.Relates to: Fair Trading
Wilson and Horton cleared to acquire Northern Publishing
26 May 1995
The Commerce Commission has cleared Wilson and Horton Limited, publisher of the New Zealand Herald, to increase its shareholding in Northern Publishing Company Limited from 19.9 percent to 100 percent.Relates to:
Shop admits selling dangerous toy
3 May 1995
A Wellington toy shop, Hocus Pocus Toys, has admitted selling a dangerous toy.Relates to: Fair Trading
Diary note for Chief Reporter/News Editor Product safety and consumer information seminars
3 May 1995
The Commerce Commission invites your consumer affairs reporter to a seminar on product safety standards and consumer information standards onRelates to: Fair Trading
Commerce Commission asked to authorise health contract
2 May 1995
The Waikato CHE, Waikato Health Limited, and regional health authority, Midland Health, applied to the Commerce Commission for authorisation of their proposed mental health services contract today.Relates to: Business Competition
April 1995
Commission concerned about duty free promotions
18 April 1995
Concern about duty free promotions will be on the agenda when Commerce Commission staff visit shops and speak at meetings in Queenstown and Wanaka on April 26 and 27.Relates to: Fair Trading
Port of Wellington cleared to buy Container Terminals
12 April 1995
The Commerce Commission today cleared Port of Wellington Limited to buy all of the shares in Container Terminals Limited.Relates to:
What does your business know about product safety standards?<
10 April 1995
by Keith Manch, Fair Trading Manager, Commerce CommissionRelates to: Fair Trading
Ford dealer convicted - called used cars new
7 April 1995
Invercargill Ford dealer, Macaulay Motors Limited, has been found guilty of four charges after leasing a used car while claiming it was new and selling a new car with a used transmission.Relates to: Fair Trading
Convictions for false claims about vitamin pills upheld
5 April 1995
The High Court in Christchurch has today upheld convictions against Megavitamin Laboratories (NZ) Limited and Dr Warren Stewart for making false claims about vitamin pills.Relates to: Fair Trading
March 1995
Megaplan action withdrawn
31 March 1995
The Commerce Commission this week withdrew its long running action against Telecom relating to Megaplan pricing.Relates to: Business Competition
Commission takes tougher line with power companies
29 March 1995
The Commerce Commission has warned electricity companies it will take a tougher line with them now that the settling down period after deregulation is over.Relates to: Business Competition
$1,385 penalties for false country of origin claim
27 March 1995
A Christchurch company, Staircase Bags and Accessories Limited, and one of its directors, Dorothy Francis, has to pay fines and costs totalling $1,385 for claiming Malaysian-made bags were made in Italy.Relates to: Fair Trading
Commission finds businesses keen to learn about consumer law<
13 March 1995
Commerce Commission investigators visiting Palmerston North, Napier and Hastings were pleased with business people's willingness to learn about the Fair Trading Act, especially as some of them had a lot to learn.Relates to:
February 1995
Commission staff visit Napier and Hastings shops
21 February 1995
Commerce Commission staff will be visiting shops and speaking at meetings in Napier and Hastings next week.Relates to: Fair Trading
Commission staff visit Palmerston North shops
21 February 1995
Commerce Commission staff will be visiting shops and speaking at meetings in Palmerston North next week.Relates to: Fair Trading
"Pure" juice made from concentrate, tap water, preservatives, sugar
17 February 1995
OJ's orange juice, a mixture of juice concentrate, tap water, sugar and preservatives, cannot be described as "100% pure" its Levin manufacturers O and K Limited has learned.Relates to: Fair Trading
No political influence on Commerce Commission
17 February 1995
In this morning's National Business Review (NBR) Graeme Hunt alleges the Commerce Commission was pressured by Minister of Agriculture John Falloon to authorise the consortium bid to buy and keep closed the Weddel meat processing plants.Relates to: Business Competition
Australian's look to New Zealand experience in competition law
10 February 1995
Australian's look to New Zealand experience in competition lawRelates to: Business Competition
January 1995
Commission urges caution in dealing with Aloha Holidays
19 January 1995
The Commerce Commission advises businesses they should not become involved in promotion of free travel to Hawaii offered by Aloha Holidays unless they exercise considerable caution.Relates to: Fair Trading
Weddel conference begins Monday
13 January 1995
The Commerce Commission conference of interested parties to the proposal to close the Weddel meat processing plants begins on Monday in the seminar suite at the Wellington Town Hall.Relates to: Business Competition
Commission staff visit Whangarei shops
1 January 1995
Commerce Commission staff will be visiting shops and speaking at meetings in Whangarei next week.Relates to: Fair Trading
