Consumer Protection

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.

Access a range of consumer research and reports commissioned or undertaken in recent years.

• New Zealand consumer surveys
• Consumer Protection quarterly reports
• COVID-19 consumer impacts study reports
• Business and consumer research
• Consumer credit research
• Consumer Advocacy Council (2021 to 2024)

The Government will be reviewing consumer credit law to ensure settings are targeted appropriately to the risk profile of the lending. MBIE is developing terms of reference for the review. This section also includes information about previous reviews of consumer credit law.

• 2024 Financial Services Reforms
• Reforms and review process agreed in August 2023
• Review of December 2021 credit law changes
• 2016 review of Section 99(1A) of the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003
• Changes to consumer credit law 2020
• Review of consumer credit law 2009–2015

This section provides information about reviews of consumer law we have conducted on behalf of the Government.

• Unfair commercial practices
• Evaluation of the 2010-2015 consumer law reforms
• Review of consumer law 2010-2015

This section provides information about the all-of-government approach taken to combat online financial scams.

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.

• Exposure draft of Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance (Buy Now Pay Later) Amendment Regulations 2022

Since 2009 there have been 6 deaths of young children in New Zealand due to cords in window coverings – 3 of which have occurred in the past 10 years.

• Consultation document: Options to address the safety risks of corded window coverings

The Government has recently introduced a requirement for country of origin information for certain foods. This page provides information about these new changes.

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.

• Declaration
• Scheme payment recipients