Commerce Commission

Commerce Commission
Te Komihana Tauhokohoko
Agency overview
Formed1986; 38 years ago (1986)
TypeCrown entity
JurisdictionNew Zealand
HeadquartersLevel 9
44 The Terrace
Wellington 6011
Employees400 as of January 2023[1]
Minister responsible
Agency executives
  • Adrienne Meikle, Chief Executive
  • John Small, Chair of Commission
Key document
Websitecomcom.govt.nz

The Commerce Commission (Māori: Te Komihana Tauhokohoko) (sometimes shortened to ComCom[2]) is a New Zealand government agency with responsibility for enforcing legislation that relates to competition in the country's markets, fair trading and consumer credit contracts, and regulatory responsibility for areas such as electricity and gas, telecommunications, dairy products and airports. It is an independent Crown entity established under the Commerce Act 1986.[3] Although responsible to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and the Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media, the Commission is run independently from the government, and is intended to be an impartial promotor and enforcer of the law.[4]

The Commission undertakes investigations into potential breaches of the Commerce Act 1986 and where appropriate, takes court action.[5] It considers applications for authorisations and clearances in relation to anti-competitive behaviour and mergers, in circumstances where the public benefit outweighs the harm to competition.[6] In specific areas where it has regulatory responsibilities, such as electricity and gas, the Commission has additional enforcement powers to promote competition and protect consumers.[7]

  1. ^ "Our people". Commerce Commission. New Zealand Government. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  2. ^ "ComCom looks at Pak'nSave ads". Stuff. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Commerce Act 1986". New Zealand Legislation. 28 April 1986. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  4. ^ "Our role". Commerce Commission. New Zealand Government. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Competition and Consumer Investigation Guidelines". Commerce Commission. New Zealand Government. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Authorising anti-competitive agreements or mergers that will likely benefit New Zealand". Commerce Commission. New Zealand Government. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  7. ^ "Our role in regulated industries - What we do". Commerce Commission. New Zealand Government. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2021.