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.

Businesses regulated under Part 4 currently include electricity lines businesses, natural gas pipeline businesses and the international airports at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Types of regulation can include price-quality regulation, negotiate-arbitrate regulation and information disclosure requirements.

In this section

Effectiveness of information disclosure regulation for airports

The 2018 Commerce Amendment Bill strengthens the regulatory regime for major international airports in New Zealand.

Government policy statements

The Government may periodically provide the Commerce Commission with statements of economic policy to which it must give regard.

Past enquiries or reviews of economic regulation

Find out more about the 2013 Merits review of Part 4 of the Commerce Act, and work that has been done in the area of airport regulation.