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 [...]
In October 2018, Steel & Tube Holdings Limited (Steel & Tube) was fined $1.885 million for breaching the Fair Trading Act 1986 (Act), the largest ever fine imposed under the Act, for making false and misleading representations about its steel mesh products. Steel & Tube had previously generated jurisprudence on pooling orders under the Companies [...]