Top Reviews and Auckland Magazine

The Commission has concluded its investigation of Top Reviews and Auckland Magazine (the Websites) and filed civil proceedings in the High Court against those operating the Websites. The Commission alleges that the Websites falsely give the impression that they provide independent, unbiased and genuine reviews about New Zealand businesses written by New Zealand based staff and that the websites are based in New Zealand. The Commission is seeking declarations that the websites have breached the Fair Trading Act and an injunction to prevent the allegedly misleading conduct from persisting. Because the conduct continues, and the Commission’s investigation has identified that those operating the websites are likely based overseas, it has sought assistance from major internet service providers and the Domain Name Commission to block access to the websites to New Zealand consumers.