Consumer Protection and Fair Competition.

Legal Advice on Fair Trading and Consumer Law

Complying with the Fair Trading Act, Consumer Guarantees Act and related legislation is essential for protecting your business and maintaining customer trust. Most businesses want to do the right thing, but even small oversights in advertising, pricing or product claims can lead to costly complaints. We provide clear, commercially focused legal advice that helps you meet your consumer law obligations confidently and avoid compliance issues before they arise.

Understanding Your Obligations

We guide you through your key responsibilities under New Zealand consumer law, including:

• How the Fair Trading Act and Consumer Guarantees Act apply to your products and services

• Managing your legal obligations in dealings with customers, suppliers and the public

• Identifying risks in marketing, pricing and product descriptions

Our goal is to help you understand how these laws affect your day to day business decisions.

Handling Complaints and Avoiding Breaches

We assist you in managing compliance and resolving customer or regulator concerns quickly and effectively. Our support includes:

• Reviewing advertising, pricing, refund terms and customer contracts

• Assessing risks of misleading or unfair business practices

• Responding to Commerce Commission investigations or consumer complaints

We work to resolve issues early, protect your brand reputation and keep your operations compliant.

Building Clear and Compliant Operations

We help you strengthen internal processes and promote a culture of compliance across your organisation. This includes:

• Identifying and reducing areas of legal exposure

• Developing internal compliance systems and staff procedures

• Embedding clear, ethical practices that build consumer confidence

Our advice is practical and preventative, designed to fit your industry and risk profile.

Where We Work

Our commercial and consumer law specialists are based in Wellington, with offices in Lower Hutt and Masterton. We assist businesses across New Zealand, providing legal advice that supports both operational compliance and customer trust.

Questions We Often Get Asked About Fair Trading and Consumer Law

What does the Fair Trading Act cover?

The Fair Trading Act prohibits misleading and deceptive conduct in trade. It applies to advertising, pricing, labelling and representations about goods or services. We advise businesses on how to meet these standards and avoid breaches.

How does the Consumer Guarantees Act apply to my business?

The Consumer Guarantees Act requires goods and services to meet certain quality and performance standards. We explain how the Act applies to your products or services and help you manage customer claims appropriately.

What happens if the Commerce Commission contacts my business?

If you receive an inquiry or investigation notice, it is important to respond promptly and carefully. We help you review the issue, prepare a response and manage communications with the Commission to protect your legal position.

How can I prevent breaches of consumer law?

Regularly review your advertising, contracts and internal procedures to make sure they comply with current legislation. We help identify compliance gaps, update policies and advise on practical steps to reduce the risk of breaches.