News

A skilled and competent workforce plays a critical role in our building system, protecting New Zealanders from harm by ensuring services are performed with reasonable and consistent care and skill to ensure building work is done right the first time.

After a series of hospitalisations overseas, MBIE is warning parents of the dangers of having small high-powered magnets in your home and around your children.

The government is progressing the development of a ‘consumer data right’ to give individuals and businesses greater choice and control over their data. This is done through the Customer and Product Data Bill, which has been introduced to Parliament and is now before the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee.

The Government has made key decisions on the design of a new regime for economic regulation and consumer protection under Local Water Done Well.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) reminds New Zealanders to check their bathrooms for a potentially dangerous recalled heater.

The Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Andrew Bayly has now sent a compulsory recall notice to Serene Industries Ltd, requiring it to recall Serene S2068 Bathroom Heaters imported, sold or installed since 16 June 2018.

On 2 May 2024, the Government announced that it would modernise and improve insurance law so that consumers and businesses can effectively protect themselves against risk.

Last month the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment (MBIE) published a voluntary recall of Serene S2068 heaters with specific serial numbers. After further investigations by WorkSafe’s Energy Safety team, all Serene S2068 heaters that were imported, sold or installed after 16 June 2018, regardless of serial number are no longer able to be used, sold or installed in New Zealand.

Today marks World Consumer Rights Day, and the Consumer Protection team at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment wants to remind New Zealanders of the protections and guarantees they can expect when purchasing goods and services in New Zealand.

Since launching in February 2023, the New Zealand Claims Resolution Service (NZCRS) has registered 1,725 cases and helped homeowners to resolve more than 900 cases.