Consumer Protection
We develop policy and law to support a trading environment that promotes the long-term interests of consumers. This page provides information about recent research and reviews of consumer law.
You have rights when you shop for goods and services. Find out more about your consumer rights.
How to comply with consumer laws and deal with complains in the best way.
This section provides information about the all-of-government approach taken to combat online financial scams.
Access a range of consumer research and reports commissioned or undertaken in recent years.
The Government recently reviewed consumer credit law as part of a wider reform process for financial services. Information about this process, as well as previous reform processes, is accessible below.
This section provides information about reviews of consumer law we have conducted on behalf of the Government.
The Government has introduced new protections for consumers using Buy Now Pay Later, effective from 2 September 2024. This is part of the Government’s work to ensure consumers are protected from potential financial harms, while enabling continued access to low-cost credit.
Since 2008, 8 young children have died in New Zealand after becoming entangled in the cords of window coverings. In 2026, the Government announced its decision to introduce product safety standards to make these products safer for children.
The Government has recently introduced a requirement for country of origin information for certain foods. This page provides information about these new changes.
In May 2026, the Government introduced the Fair Trading Amendment Bill to provide a strong deterrent for unfair and misleading conduct, introduced a new ‘safe harbour’ statutory defence to support the takedown of scam websites, and makes changes to enable product safety standards to be kept up to date.
Following a number of recent complaints from consumers about ticket reselling practices, the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs has announced a review into ticket reselling in New Zealand.
In 2016 we consulted on disclosure regulations for third-party fundraisers.
New legislation to protect the public from wheel clampers charging excessive fees and preying on motorists is in effect from 2 January 2020.
The Scheme supports the recovery of refunds and credits owed to New Zealand consumers by overseas travel suppliers.