March 2006
Transpower seeks settlement with Commission, customers won't face 19% price rise on 1 April
31 March 2006
Electricity transmission business Transpower has told the Commerce Commission its customers will not pay the planned 19% price rise on 1 April, while Transpower seeks to negotiate an administrative settlement with the Commission.Relates to: Electricity
Commission closes investigation
31 March 2006
The Commerce Commission has today closed its investigation into claims by Origin Pacific Airways Limited that Air New Zealand took advantage of its market power to restrict, prevent or deter competition on selected provincial air services markets.Relates to: Business Competition
ANZ National Bank pleads guilty over credit card fees: $10 million in refunds, record $1.325 million fine
30 March 2006
The ANZ National Bank Limited has pleaded guilty in the Auckland District Court to 45 charges of breaching the Fair Trading Act by failing to properly disclose fees charged for overseas currency transactions on its credit cards.Relates to: Fair Trading
Commerce Commission to investigate Ihug and Callplus applications for regulated bitstream service
29 March 2006
The Commission has decided to investigate two separate applications from Ihug and Callplus for access determinations in relation to the regulated bitstream service.
Relates to: Telecommunications
Gas retailers respond to distribution price reductions
23 March 2006
In August 2005 the Commission issued a Provisional Authorisation requiring the average price for the distribution component of gas prices to be reduced by at least 9% and 9.5% for Powerco and Vector respectively. The Commission sought a response from gas retailers as to how they proposed to pass on these savings to their customers.Relates to: Gas Pipelines
Commission grants Electricity Industry Reform Act exemption to Unison Networks
21 March 2006
The Commerce Commission has granted Unison Networks a limited exemption under the Electricity Industry Reform Act in relation its proposed investment in a wind farm. The proposed wind farm is to be built in the Maungaruru and Te Waka Ranges by way of a joint venture with Hydro Tasmania. Unison will not supply electricity from the wind farm to customers connected to its own network.
Relates to: Electricity
Commission declines to grant Electricity Industry Reform Act exemption to Eastland Networks
21 March 2006
The Commerce Commission has declined to grant Eastland Networks Limited an exemption under the Electricity Industry Reform Act. The exemption related to Eastland's proposed investment in a wind farm to be built in Mokairau near Gisborne. Eastland intended to retail the electricity generated by the wind farm directly to customers on its own network.
Relates to: Business Competition, Electricity
Telecommunications Act: Commerce Commission releases draft TRS TSO
20 March 2006
The Commerce Commission has released its draft determination on the cost of running the Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) for the hearing impaired.
Relates to: Telecommunications
New Zealand Bus Limited withdraws application to acquire Mana Coach Services
20 March 2006
New Zealand Bus Limited has withdrawn its section 66 clearance application to acquire the remaining 74% shares in Mana Coach Services.
Relates to: Business Competition
Unison to reverse electricity price rises for Rotorua, Taupo
17 March 2006
Electricity distribution business Unison Networks has told the Commerce Commission it will reverse its most recent distribution price rises in Taupo and Rotorua from the first of April.
Relates to: Electricity
Fraud Awareness Month - Phishing for your funds
17 March 2006
"May I steal your bank account details and money, please?" We all know exactly how to respond to a question like this, no matter how genuine or polite the caller sounded.
Relates to: Fair Trading
Morning Star ordered to pay $50,000 for Commerce Act breach
16 March 2006
Computer parts and systems wholesaler Morning Star Computer Limited has been ordered to pay $50,000 plus $3,624 costs in the Auckland High Court, following an admission that it contravened the Commerce Act by preventing computer parts resellers from advertising its products below certain fixed prices.
Relates to: Business Competition
Telecommunications Act: Commission receives two applications for access to regulated bitstream service
14 March 2006
The Commerce Commission has received applications from ihug Limited and Callplus Limited requesting access determinations under the Telecommunications Act 2001 in relation to the provision of bitstream by Telecom New Zealand Limited.
Relates to: Telecommunications
Commerce Commission to investigate Vodafone Application for Interconnection with Telecom's fixed network
14 March 2006
The Commission has decided to investigate Vodafone's request for an access determination in relation to interconnection with Telecom's fixed network. Vodafone is planning to introduce a local service using cellular phones that also act as home phones, and is seeking a service that allows for calls to be passed between Vodafone local customers and Telecom local customers.
Relates to: Telecommunications
Portacom New Zealand applies for clearance to acquire Rhino Portable Buildings
10 March 2006
The Commerce Commission has received an application from Portacom New Zealand Limited seeking clearance to acquire the business and assets of Rhino Portable Buildings Limited.
Relates to: Business Competition
Draft Determination on NZRU authorisation
9 March 2006
The Commerce Commission has issued its Draft Determination on an application for authorisation from the New Zealand Rugby Union.
Relates to: Business Competition
Commission reports to Minister on Sprint's compliance with Service Quality Measures for Relay Service
3 March 2006
The Commerce Commission has presented its report to the Minister of Communications on Sprint International New Zealand Limited's performance in complying with the TSO Deed for Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) for the hearing impaired.
Relates to: Telecommunications
Fraud Awareness Month - Won a prize in a lottery you didn't enter? It's a scam
3 March 2006
As part of Fraud Awareness Month, the Commerce Commission and the Ministry of Consumer Affairs are warning New Zealand consumers to be on the lookout for lottery and prize scams.
Relates to: Fair Trading
