Guidance: business collaboration in response to an emergency
The Commission appreciates that in the current environment businesses may need to work together to ensure New Zealanders get the goods and services they need.
Because competition benefits consumers even in times of crisis, we’re also mindful of the importance of maintaining competitive markets in New Zealand. We want to be clear that we will not tolerate the use of an emergency as an excuse for collusion or other anti-competitive behaviour. This includes cartel conduct such as price fixing and market allocation.
That’s why we’re reminding businesses about our guidance around collaborating in emergency situations. This guidance sets out the factors that the Commission will take into account when considering the type of collaboration that is likely to be required in response to an emergency. These factors will inform the exercise of the Commission’s discretion when it decides whether to investigate or take enforcement action in relation to such conduct.
We want to ensure businesses have simple and clear information about how they can work together to maintain the supply of goods and services during an emergency situation.
Read our guidelines below.