Commerce Commission – unconscionable conduct
For the first time, the Commerce Commission has filed proceedings under the prohibition on unconscionable conduct in the Fair Trading Act 1986. This development suggests that active enforcement in this area is underway.
Unconscionable conduct is business behaviour that falls well below accepted New Zealand standards and goes beyond ordinary commercial practice to conduct that is clearly unfair and unreasonable. This is one of several areas the Commission has identified as an enforcement priority.
The Commission has taken action against Brand Developers Limited (trading as The TV Shop) and Tech Vault Enterprises Limited (trading as HouseSmile), alleging both used high-pressure sales tactics on vulnerable consumers, including people with cognitive impairments or serious illnesses. The Commission considers this conduct a clear departure from acceptable business standards.
Businesses found in breach of the prohibition risk a fine of up to $600,000 and individuals may be liable for a fine of up to $200,000. Courts may also order businesses to compensate affected customers.
This action serves as a timely reminder to all businesses to ensure their sales practices are up to scratch, especially when they are dealing with vulnerable customers.
Overseas Investment Act 2005 reform
The Overseas Investment (National Interest Test and Other Matters) Amendment Act came into force on 6 March 2026, delivering a significant overhaul of New Zealand’s foreign investment framework.
The reforms are designed to make it easier and faster for overseas investors to invest in New Zealand, while ensuring the government retains the ability to scrutinise transactions that could affect New Zealand’s national interests.
Part of the reform involved streamlining the overseas investment application process. Previously, overseas investment applications had to satisfy several separate tests. A single national interest test now applies to transactions involving significant business assets and sensitive land, other than farmland, fishing quota and residential land (for which the existing consent pathways remain). Applications are assessed through a three-stage process:
- Risk identification: The Overseas Investment Office (OIO) assesses the application for any national interest concerns. If none are identified, consent is granted. The statutory timeframe for decisions under this stage is up to 15 working days.
- Risk assessment: If concerns are identified, a more detailed assessment follows. Consent can still be granted at this stage, with or without conditions. The statutory timeframe for review under this stage increases by 55 working days.
- Ministerial decision: In cases where the transaction may be contrary to New Zealand’s national interest, the matter may be referred to the Minister of Finance who can decline consent. There is no fixed statutory timeframe for a ministerial decision.
For business owners looking to attract overseas investment or to sell to a foreign buyer, this framework should make the consent process faster and more straightforward. That said, the regime still applies and any agreement must be specifically conditional on OIO consent being obtained before the deal proceeds.
New obligations for businesses collecting personal information from third parties
On 1 May 2026, Information Privacy Principle 3A (IPP3A) came into effect, expanding the notification requirement under the Privacy Act 2020 to cover indirect collection of personal information.
Previously, businesses had no obligation to notify individuals when collecting their personal information from a third party. IPP3A has changed that.
What your business must disclose: From now on, when your business collects personal information indirectly, you must take reasonable steps, as soon as is reasonably practicable, to make the individual aware of the:
- Fact that their information has been collected
- Purpose of the collection
- Intended recipients of the information
- Name and address of the agency, or agencies, collecting and holding the information
- If applicable, which law authorises or requires the collection, and
- Rights of the individual to access and correct their information.
Exceptions: IPP3A does not require notification in all circumstances. Exceptions include, but are not limited to, where:
- The individual has already been notified
- The information is publicly available
- Compliance is not reasonably practicable, and/or
- It is necessary for law enforcement or court proceedings.
Please note the above is to be treated as a guide rather than an exhaustive list. We recommend seeking tailored legal advice before relying on any exception.
Next steps: If you haven’t already, you may want to consider building notification into your existing policies and this should be communicated clearly to individuals. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner has released guidance on IPP3A which provides a helpful starting point for understanding your obligations. Non-compliance may result in a complaint to the Privacy Commissioner, which may lead to a formal investigation and have potentially significant consequences for your business, so it is important you take steps now to ensure your processes are up to date.
For more detailed information about IPP3A together with examples of how it works, click here. If you have any questions about how IPP3A applies specifically to your organisation, please feel free to contact us.
Employment Relations Amendment Act 2026 – key changes
The Employment Relations Amendment Act 2026 came into force on 21 February 2026, introducing some significant changes to the New Zealand employment law framework. Some of the key changes of which businesses should be aware are listed below.
Independent contractors: The Act introduces a new gateway test to determine whether a worker is an employee or a contractor. To qualify as a ‘specified contractor,’ five criteria must be met that cover matters such as having a written agreement, freedom to work for others, flexible hours, the ability to decline work and having had a reasonable opportunity to seek legal advice. There is more information about the test here.
Personal grievances: Where an employee’s conduct amounts to serious misconduct and has contributed to the situation giving rise to the personal grievance, no remedies will be awarded. Where the conduct falls short of serious misconduct but still contributed to the grievance, remedies may be reduced by up to 100%.
High-income earner: Employees earning $200,000+ per year in total remuneration will no longer be able to bring a personal grievance or file proceedings in relation to an unjustified dismissal. A 12-month transitional protection applies to those already in roles when the legislation came into force.
Collective agreements: The requirement to apply collective agreement terms to new employees during their first 30 days, and the automatic sharing of new employee information with the union, will no longer apply.
Justification test: The section 103A justification test has been amended to take into account whether an employee obstructed the employer’s process. Significant procedural failures will no longer render a dismissal unjustifiable where the employee was not actually treated unfairly.
If you would like to discuss any aspect of how this new legislation affects your business, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
DISCLAIMER: All the information published in Commercial eSpeaking is true and accurate to the best of the authors’ knowledge. It should not be a substitute for legal advice. No liability is assumed by the authors or publisher for losses suffered by any person or organisation relying directly or indirectly on this newsletter. Views expressed are those of individual authors, and do not necessarily reflect the view of Edmonds Judd. Articles appearing in Commercial eSpeaking may be reproduced with prior approval from the editor and credit given to the source.
Content Copyright © NZ LAW Limited, 2026. Editor: Adrienne Olsen. E-mail: [email protected] Ph: 029 286 3650
