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
Commission offices reopen January 5
24 December 1997
The Commerce Commission's Wellington office will be closing for the Christmas and New Year holidays at 5.30pm today. All three of its offices (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch) will reopen at 8.30am on January 5, 1998.Relates to:
Commission clears Nuplex to acquire ACH
24 December 1997
The Commerce Commission today cleared Nuplex Industries Limited and Nuplex (Holding) Pty Limited to acquire Australian Chemical Holdings Limited (ACH).Relates to:
Commission starts court action over cancelled cataract operations
19 December 1997
The Commerce Commission is taking court action against the Ophthalmological Society of New Zealand and five individual ophthalmologists over their alleged anti-competitive collusion which led to the cancellation of cataract operations to be performed in Invercargill by Australian ophthalmologists.Relates to: Business Competition
$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
Commission declines to clear Tip Top to acquire "New American" ice cream
19 December 1997
The Commerce Commission today declined to clear Tip Top Ice Cream Company Ltd's proposed acquisition of the "New American" take home ice cream business of United Dairy Foods Ltd.Relates to:
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
Commerce Commission starts court action against Fletcher Challenge companies
16 December 1997
The Commerce Commission has started court action against Fletcher Challenge Limited (FCL), and Fletcher Challenge Energy (FCE), alleging that the companies' acquisitions of shares in the Kupe gas field and other arrangements involving the field breached the Commerce Act.Relates to: Business Competition
Toyota dealer to face trial for price fixing
16 December 1997
Following a Court of Appeal decision today, Auckland Toyota dealer, Giltrap City Toyota, will face a trial to hear allegations that it was involved in price fixing.Relates to: Business Competition
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
Commission receives application from Stagecoach to acquire The Yellow Bus Company
12 December 1997
The Commerce Commission today received an application from Stagecoach Holdings plc subsidiary, New Zealand Bus Limited, for clearance to acquire Transportation Auckland Corporation Limited, which trades as The Yellow Bus Company.Relates to:
Commission investigates taxi fare price fixing
12 December 1997
In a move affecting all members of the New Zealand Taxi Federation (NZTF), the Commerce Commission has investigated price fixing involving two taxi companies.Relates to: Business Competition
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
Commerce Commission investigates tertiary education institution mergers
8 December 1997
The Commerce Commission is investigating mergers of tertiary education institutions, and is advising them that they must be aware that they are covered by the Commerce Act.Relates to: Business Competition
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
Commission clears crematorium acquisition
4 December 1997
The Commerce Commission yesterday evening cleared The Cremation Society of Canterbury Limited to acquire up to 100 percent of the shares in Harewood Cremation Limited.Relates to:
