Publications
Legal Guide: An overview of New Zealand's competition regime
The underlying theme of New Zealand's competition laws is that the best way to ensure that New Zealand's scarce resources are used most efficiently is to promote competition within markets, thereby giving individual firms the incentive to maximise their internal efficiency.
New Zealand's competition laws are contained in the Commerce Act 1986. The purpose of the Commerce Act is to "to promote competition in markets for the long-term benefit of consumers within New Zealand". The pro-competitive purpose of the Commerce Act is achieved by regulating mergers and regulating market behaviour.
The Commerce Commission is the statutory body responsible for administering the Commerce Act. It is also responsible for administering other statutes such as:
- Fair Trading Act 1986, which is New Zealand’s principal consumer protection legislation;
- Telecommunications Act 2001;
- Electricity Reform Act 1998; and
- Dairy Industry Restructuring Act 2001.
Bell Gully's Competition Team has recently contributed an overview of New Zealand's competition regime to The 2005 Handbook of Competition Enforcement Agencies, a Global Competition Review special report, which can be accessed in full at www.globalcompetitionreview.com.
Click here to read the New Zealand chapter in full.
Disclaimer
This publication is necessarily brief and general in nature. You should seek professional advice before taking any action in relation to the matters dealt with in this publication.
