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Business
- Support for business
- Financial markets conduct regulation
- Competition regulation and policy
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Regulating entities
- Du Val statutory management
- Companies Act reforms
- Incorporated Societies Act 2022
- Our work with the PCO
- Financial Reporting Act 2013
- Insolvency Review Working Group
- Supporting the integrity of the corporate governance system
- Changes to the Takeovers Code
- Historic reform of corporate law
- Mandatory climate-related disclosures
- The Business Payment Practices Act 2023 has been repealed
- Review of New Zealand Companies Office Fees and Levies (2025)
- Standards and conformance
- Trade and tariffs
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Intellectual property
- Copyright
- Haka Ka Mate Attribution Act guidelines
- Designs
- Geographical indications
- Plant variety rights
- Integrated circuit design protection
- Intellectual property enforcement
- Mātauranga and Taonga Māori and the Intellectual Property System
- Disclosure of origin requirements in the patents regime
- Proposed Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Bill
- The Trans-Tasman patent attorney registration regime
- business.govt.nz
Competition regulation and policy
We provide advice on the Commerce Act and the application of competition policy to specific sectors. We’re also the monitoring agency for the Commerce Commission.
In this section
Market studies
The Commerce Amendment Act 2018 amended the Commerce Act 1986 (the Commerce Act) to give the Commerce Commission the ability to undertake market studies to determine whether there are any factors that may be impeding competition in a market.
Reviews of the Commerce Act 1986
We carry out periodic reviews of the Commerce Act to ensure it reflects modern regulatory practice and continues to deliver benefits to New Zealanders.
- Refreshing competition settings
- Discussion document: Promoting competition in New Zealand – A targeted review of the Commerce Act 19
- Review of section 36 of the Commerce Act and other matters
- Commerce Amendment Act 2018
- Targeted review of the Commerce Act 2015
- Criminalisation of cartels 2018-19
- Cartels and collaborative activities 2017
- Past reviews of the Commerce Act
Retail payment system
We are working to ensure that the retail payment system operates in the interests of New Zealand consumers and businesses.
Consumer data right
The Government has established a consumer data right through the Customer and Product Data Act 2025. The Act establishes an economy-wide framework to enable greater access to, and sharing of, customer and product data between businesses. This gives individuals and businesses greater choice and control over their data.
Economic regulation of goods or services
The regulation of the price and quality of goods or services in markets with monopoly characteristics is covered by Part 4 of the Commerce Act, and is implemented by the Commerce Commission.
Assessing competition impacts
We provide advice on the impacts of government policies and proposed regulation — including occupational regulation — on competition and consumers.
Monitoring the Commerce Commission
The Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is the minister responsible for the Commerce Commission, and appointed us as its monitoring agent.
Lay members
This page lists current lay members appointed to the High Court for Commerce Act matters.
Economic regulation policy for water services
We are working with the Department of Internal Affairs to advance the new direction for water services and policy based on Local Water Done Well.
Contact us
You can email us at competition.policy@mbie.govt.nz.
For phone numbers and postal addresses, see the main Contact Us page.