These priorities were shaped by over 11,000 complaints received by the commission last year
The Commerce Commission has outlined its compliance and enforcement priorities for 2024-25, identifying key sectors and practices that will be the focus of its regulatory activities.
The priorities, revealed during a stakeholder webinar now available on the Commission’s website, aim to address conduct that undermines competition and harms consumers in critical markets.
Commission Chair John Small stated that the identified focus areas serve as a clear warning to businesses. “Our enforcement priorities put businesses on notice—where we see unlawful conduct relating to these priority areas, businesses should be under no illusion the Commission will act,” Small said in a statement.
The Commission has reaffirmed its five enduring priorities, which include targeting cartels, anti-competitive conduct, unsafe products, and practices that affect vulnerable consumers, as well as actions that support its broader market and economic regulation roles. In addition, it has designated specific focus areas for the year ahead. These include addressing bid-rigging cartels that undermine competitive procurement processes, non-compete agreements that unlawfully restrict competition, and illegal online sales practices such as fake reviews, misleading scarcity claims, and subscription traps.
The grocery sector will remain under close scrutiny as the Commission prioritises enforcement against illegal pricing and promotional practices. In the telecommunications sector, an essential service, the Commission intends to address false or deceptive marketing, sales, and billing practices. Other focus areas include motor vehicle finance, particularly among lenders who fail to meet responsible lending obligations and unconscionable conduct—behaviour deemed excessively harsh and harmful to consumers or businesses.
Small explained that these priorities were shaped by insights from the more than 11,000 complaints lodged with the commission over the past year, along with broader market intelligence and economic trends. He acknowledged that while not every complaint could be investigated, recurring themes and issues informed the selection of focus areas.
The commission plans to increase its enforcement activity by adopting a strategy to “overcommit” its litigation fund, which will allow it to take on more cases, even those with uncertain outcomes. Small highlighted that this approach would enable the commission to pursue significant cases that could clarify legal precedents.
The enforcement priorities will primarily be delivered by the Commission’s consumer and competition teams. However, Small assured stakeholders that this focus does not detract from its ongoing regulatory responsibilities in sectors such as telecommunications, energy, and fuel. He emphasised the need for businesses to comply with the rules to avoid enforcement action.
