The Court of Appeal has overturned a High Court decision to the effect that certain Hamilton real estate agencies (Agencies) had not acted in breach of the Commerce Act 1986 (Act). In Commerce Commission v Lodge Real Estate Ltd [2018] NZCA 523, the fact that the real estate agents had come to an arrangement or [...]
The scope of powers for the NZ Commerce Commission (Commission) has recently expanded. The Commission has had confirmation that it can consider non-economic factors in a decision on a proposed merger or acquisition; and Parliament has legislated for the Commission to have the power to undertake market studies. In late 2017, the High Court upheld [...]
On 30 June 2017 the New Zealand Commerce Commission (NZCC) released its final guidelines on credit fees. The updates to the previous draft guidelines (released in September 2016) provide lenders with guidance on assessing the reasonableness of credit fees under the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003 (CCCFA). The guidelines also emphasise conclusions drawn [...]