19 May 2026
5 months ago
1024 views
The Ministry for Primary Industries has released the terms of reference for a mandatory review of the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act (DIRA) to evaluate whether its competition provisions regulating Fonterra remain necessary and effective. The review will consider if these provisions should be retained, repealed, or amended, with findings due to Parliament by June 1, 2027, and will include two rounds of stakeholder consultation. DIRA was originally established to support Fonterra’s creation and regulate its market activities beyond general competition laws to ensure efficient dairy market operations in New Zealand.
05 May 2026
5 months ago
1034 views
Tertiary Education Minister Penny Simmonds has appointed Michelle Findlater to the Board of the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) for a three-year term starting May 2026. Michelle, with extensive experience in the automotive industry and work-based training, has been recognized for her contributions and potential, including receiving the Janet Lane Scholarship from MITO. Her expertise is expected to support the TEC’s focus on enhancing access, participation, and achievement in tertiary education to build the workforce New Zealand needs.
04 May 2026
5 months ago
1068 views
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Cameron Brewer has accepted the resignation of Financial Markets Authority (FMA) Chair Craig Stobo following an independent review that found no evidence of inappropriate relationships but noted lapses in political neutrality and delayed governance disclosures. The review emphasized the importance of maintaining confidence in the FMA’s independence and integrity as it continues its regulatory role in New Zealand’s financial markets. Steven Bardy will serve as Acting Chair while a permanent replacement is sought, with the government reaffirming its commitment to a strong and independent financial markets regulator.
26 Mar 2026
7 months ago
1415 views
New Zealand is reforming its Commerce Commission to improve competition regulation by separating governance and regulatory functions, following an independent review that found the current structure ineffective. The new governance model, effective from July 2027, introduces an oversight board with external directors and a panel of expert commissioners to enhance decision-making and market competitiveness. Current leadership will provide continuity during the transition, with the Commerce (Commerce Commission Reform) Amendment Bill now under consideration by the Finance and Expenditure Committee.
26 Mar 2026
7 months ago
1194 views
New Zealand is reforming its Commerce Commission to enhance competition, innovation, and market fairness by separating governance and regulatory functions, following an independent review that found the current structure inadequate. The new model, effective from July 2027, introduces an oversight board with external directors, a panel of expert commissioners, and delegated regulatory decision-making to improve strategic focus and operational effectiveness. Leadership continuity will be maintained with Dr. John Small as chief commissioner and board chair until 2030, ensuring stability during the transition.
05 Mar 2026
7 months ago
1225 views
Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston announced the launch of ChamberWorks, a partnership between the Ministry of Social Development and New Zealand Chambers of Commerce, aimed at helping businesses with recruitment and increasing employment. The initiative addresses employers' recruitment challenges by aligning workforce needs with job seekers and leveraging MSD's extensive talent pipeline and training resources. ChamberWorks will operate nationally across 23 chambers, collaborating on workforce plans and opportunities to support businesses and get more Kiwis into work.
09 Feb 2026
8 months ago
1358 views
Standards New Zealand and Standards Australia have signed a new agreement to align trans-Tasman standards, enhancing product quality, safety, and reducing costs for businesses and consumers. The agreement supports innovation and economic growth by adopting international standards in areas like AI, data management, and cybersecurity, while removing fees and red tape to boost competitiveness and digital trade. This collaboration, endorsed by both governments and industry stakeholders, strengthens New Zealand’s role in joint standards development and fosters a modern, efficient regulatory environment.
28 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1100 views
New Zealand and Australia have committed $10 million over five years to support PACER Plus, aiming to enhance export capabilities, diversify trade, attract investment, and boost labor mobility in Pacific countries. This new investment, announced five years after the agreement took effect, underscores ongoing commitment to regional trade growth, economic integration, and prosperity. The PACER Plus Development and Economic Cooperation Work Programme facilitates implementation, harmonizes trade infrastructure, and maximizes business opportunities across member nations.
26 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1175 views
The New Zealand Government is advancing reforms to improve infrastructure funding and financing to support housing and urban growth, focusing on land supply, infrastructure, and growth incentives through its Going for Housing Growth programme. Key initiatives include introducing the Infrastructure Funding and Financing (IFF) Amendment Bill, replacing development contributions with a new development levies system, and proposing the Commerce Commission as the regulator for development levies to ensure fairness and transparency. Public consultation on these reforms runs until February 2026, aiming to create a flexible, consistent system that enables faster housing development and better infrastructure delivery.
25 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1120 views
Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Scott Simpson is traveling to the Solomon Islands to attend the 2025 PACER Plus Ministerial Meeting, emphasizing the agreement's role in strengthening economic growth and trade in the Pacific. Since PACER Plus began, New Zealand's trade with member countries has increased by 47 percent, highlighting the success of this partnership. During his visit, Simpson will also engage with the Solomon Islands–New Zealand Business Community and regional counterparts before returning to New Zealand on 28 November.
20 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1174 views
Legislation has passed its first reading to enable Earth Sciences New Zealand to acquire MetService, uniting the country’s key meteorological agencies to improve climate understanding and natural hazard response. The bill removes MetService from the State-Owned Enterprises Act, mandates data access policies, and exempts the acquisition from certain commerce regulations to prioritize public benefits over competition concerns. This integration aims to provide clearer climate insights, more accurate forecasts, faster warnings, and enhanced scientific collaboration while maintaining MetService’s trusted brand and authoritative public safety role.
20 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1204 views
Legislation has passed its first reading to enable Earth Sciences New Zealand to acquire MetService, uniting the country’s key meteorological agencies to improve climate understanding and response to natural hazards. The bill removes MetService from the State-Owned Enterprises Act, mandates data access policies, and exempts the acquisition from certain competition laws to prioritize public benefits. This integration aims to provide clearer climate insights, more accurate forecasts, faster warnings, and enhanced collaboration using expanded infrastructure and technology.
17 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1191 views
The New Zealand Government is introducing safe harbour legal protections to enable banks, telecommunications providers, and digital platforms to act swiftly and confidently in blocking suspected online scams without fear of prosecution. These protections require reasonable grounds for suspicion, proportional action, and correction of any unintended disruption, supporting a prevention-first approach against scams that caused $265 million in losses last year. Complementing this, the New Zealand Anti Scam Alliance is developing a trusted flagger system and new fraud intelligence tools to identify and freeze suspicious accounts, enhancing cross-sector collaboration to combat evolving scam threats.
17 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1169 views
The Government plans to significantly increase penalties for breaches of the Fair Trading Act, raising maximum fines to the greater of $5 million, three times the commercial gain, or the transaction value, to better deter misleading advertising and unfair business practices. The reforms will shift most breaches from criminal to civil liability, allowing the Commerce Commission to act on a lower standard of proof, while serious offenses remain criminal, aiming to create a fairer marketplace and protect consumers. These changes follow rising complaints and aim to align New Zealand’s laws with international standards, with legislation expected to pass next year after public consultation.
13 Nov 2025
11 months ago
1133 views
The Government has accepted or partially accepted all recommendations from the Finance and Expenditure Committee's inquiry into banking competition, focusing on business, rural banking, and lending to Māori entities. The findings highlighted concerns about high banking profitability, market concentration, barriers to entry, and regulatory settings, aligning with the Commerce Commission's report. Actions include allowing Kiwibank's parent company to raise capital, emphasizing banking competition in policies, encouraging standardization of financial information, disclosing account profitability, expanding regulatory sandbox trials, developing a licensing model for innovation, and coordinating monitoring through the Treasury.