Competition Law: Year in Review 2023

We outline the objectives of the Consumer Guarantees (Right to Repair) Amendment Bill and the subsequent steps following its successful first reading in February.

We take a look back at important developments across the last year in some key areas of law including Competition, Consumer Law, Corporate Law, EPNR, ESG, Litigation, Private Client, Private Equity and R&I.

As 2024 draws to a close, it’s time for a round-up of some of our most popular posts and publications.

The High Court has imposed its first criminal sentence for cartel conduct under section 30 of the Commerce Act 1986 (Commerce Act). Munesh Kumar and his company, MaxBuild Limited (MaxBuild) were both convicted of cartel conduct, having pleaded guilty to agreeing with a competitor to rig their bids on two publicly funded construction projects.

The Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister, Hon Andrew Bayly, along with the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment have today announced a significant and wide-ranging review of New Zealand's competition law regime.

Our Competition Law Year in Review offers a snapshot of New Zealand's key competition law developments during 2024 and a look ahead to 2025.

The Commerce Commission (Commission) has issued updated Enforcement Response Guidelines (ERGs) this week. The ERGs replace the 2013 version and better reflect the Commission’s approach to enforcement as it has evolved over the past decade.

The New Zealand Commerce Commission (Commission) has declined to grant clearance to AlphaTheta Corporation's proposed acquisition of local software developer, Serato. This is the first merger clearance application declined by the Commission in more than six years.

The Commerce Commission (Commission) has published an updated Cartel Leniency and Immunity Policy (Policy) and Template Leniency Agreement. The Commission has operated the Policy since 2004 and sees the Policy as one of its most important tools to detect and prosecute cartel conduct.