Podcasts about Commerce Commission

Electric Kiwi says an application by Gentailers Contact, Meridian and Mercury to buy into Genesis' operation of the Huntly Power Station needs significant scrutiny from the Commerce Commission to prevent "cartel conduct". Electric Kiwi chief executive Huia Burt spoke to Corin Dann.

A view higher than average grocery prices show something's clearly wrong with our grocery sector. The Commerce Commission's revealed our prices are the fifth-highest in the developed world. It highlights the market doesn't support new players and major supermarkets continue to wield power over smaller stores. Grocery policy expert Ernie Newman told Ryan Bridge there's no good reason for us to pay so much. He says for a country that's an extremely efficient food producer, we should be paying way below the OECD average – which we used to. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grocery prices will continue to hit Kiwi consumers and our economy hard. A report by the Commerce Commission shows prices are increasing again this year after appearing to stabilise last year. It's revealed we now pay the fifth highest grocery prices in the developed world. Grocery Action Group Chair Sue Chetwin told Mike Hosking the competition in New Zealand isn't particularly healthy. She says that unless the two major supermarkets know that they're going to face proper regulation or something big will happen to them, they can continue to charge high prices. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Competition's lacking in the supermarket sector and Kiwis are struggling to put food on the table. The Commerce Commission's Annual Grocery Report's revealed our grocery prices are the fifth-highest in the developed world. It highlights the market isn't supportive of new players, and major supermarkets continue to wield power over smaller stores. Grocery Commissioner Pierre van Heerden says extra competition is key to bringing prices down more. "That's why we're so focused on using all the tools we have available to ensure that we do get competition going in the market for the long term." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast 2025 Thursday 7th of August, fuel taxes are out and road user charges are in for everyone, National Road Carriers Association CEO Justin Tighe-umbers tells Ryan how much of an impact it will make. According to a Commerce Commission report, the big two supermarket chains still dominate with 82% market share. Unemployment's at its highest level since 2020, with retail hit hard, Retail NZ CEO Carolyn Young tells Ryan how bad the job market is looking. Plus US Correspondent Katie Fisher has the latest on US Envoy Steve Witkoff meeting with Putin in Moscow. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big players in the energy space are putting forward a new 10-year deal they say will secure supply at Huntly Power Station. Genesis, Mercury, Meridian and Contact have agreed to co-invest in a strategic energy reserve – pending Commerce Commission approval. It includes adding up to 600-thousand tonnes of coal to current stocks. Meridian Energy CEO Mike Roan told Kerre Woodham that although some may find it surprising, it's more cost effective to import coal than it is to mine it in New Zealand. He says the Huntly deal will give them 10 years of confidence in thermal fuel that they can use to continue investing in renewable generation. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Commerce Commission is calling for business customers to anonymously report unfair or anti-competitive electricity industry practices. Commerce Commission chair John Small spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

We need to be a bit practical about this business of importing coal. Yesterday Genesis, Mercury, Meridian, and Contact announced they're going to stockpile up to 600,000 tonnes of coal to keep the lights on at Huntly power station. The deal needs Commerce Commission's approval so it doesn't look like they're colluding on price, but the idea struck a deal, which still needs Commerce Commission approval, to keep the lights on at Huntly. The coal gives them a back up for times when we're low on electricity, when the lake levels are low, and the wind isn't blowing. Huntly is the largest electricity generation site in the country. It needs fuel to run on. Eventually, they'd like it to be all biomass and green, friendly fuels. But in the meantime, they need something reliable to keep things chugging along so as we avoid another energy crunch like last year when spot prices went berserk because we realised how little gas have in this country. And queue the predicable outcries of disbelief and feigned shock from some quarters in reaction. Including those climate protesters, who I can only assume are still disrupting operations at the Stockton mine in the South Island. Last I saw, there was some woman up there in the bucket, health and safety be damned, zooming into a call with a journalist. Surrounded by a plethora of plastic in things like cabling, cell phones, battery packs, tools, even a helmet, she explained that coal was evil and would eventually ruin kill the planet. Never mind the fact her presence in the bucket meant workers were now having to truck their coal from one site to another using diesel, rather than the aerial rope pulley system whose bucket she and her plastic fantastic friends were occupying. No shame either, apparently, about a helicopter flying in, on AV gas, to check on the protesters after a bit of rain. The reality is this. Nobody's saying coal is amazing and is the only solution to our problem and let's burn it till we all burn. They're just saying, we need this reliable fuel to tide us over till we don't need it anymore. If the choice is to either burn coal or have a cold shower, I know what I'd be doing. And let's not forget that even if we did stop digging up coal and using it to heat our homes occasionally, some other country would be just that anyway. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve all been caught out when using PayWave or contactless payment in stores, where we think we know how much we’re paying and then a surcharge adds a tiny bit more on that final price. Well, that’s about to change. The Government is planning to ban retailers from being able to add surcharges to most in-store card payments. It follows a decision by the Commerce Commission last week to reduce interchange fees paid by businesses for accepting credit card payments. So what does this all mean for consumers and business owners… are there more savings that could be made on these fees, or are they a consequence of trying to attract more competition to the market? Today on The Front Page, Massey University Associate Professor from the School of Accountancy, Economics and Finance, Claire Matthews, is with us to break down what this all means for you. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea DanielsEditor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tapping or swiping your bank cards is about to get cheaper for shoppers, as the government announced it is set to ban surchages for paywave by 2026. The Commerce Commission estimates Kiwis pay about $150 million in card surcharges each year, including up to $65 million in excessive charges. Commerce & Consumer Affairs Minister, Scott Simpson spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Government's recent ban on on payment card surcharges has been met with criticism from the retail and hospitality sectors. The Government's announced it will scrap extra in-store card fees by next May. The Commerce Commission has already reduced bank interchange visa and master card fees for businesses. Dairy and Business Owners Group chair Ankit Bansal says these proposed changes are 'unfair' as the banks can still charge whatever transaction fees they like. "These will likely have to be passed on to the consumers - the problem is, we would have to do it across the board. So even if someone was paying with cash, one way or another, we're paying for these charges." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's recent ban on on payment card surcharges has been met with criticism from the retail and hospitality sectors. The Government's announced it will scrap extra in-store card fees by next May. The Commerce Commission has already reduced bank interchange visa and master card fees for businesses. Dairy and Business Owners Group chair Ankit Bansal says these proposed changes are 'unfair' as the banks can still charge whatever transaction fees they like. "These will likely have to be passed on to the consumers - the problem is, we would have to do it across the board. So even if someone was paying with cash, one way or another, we're paying for these charges." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Getting food delivered to the door has become a huge business, and in one New Zealand town the competition between two operators has led to complaints to the Commerce Commission. Nelson's Yummi food delivery business launched a decade ago but in recent years it has struggled. Two years ago another Kiwi-owned nationwide company, DeliverEasy, Yummi began losing clients. Yummi founder George Evans spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

The Commerce Commission has raised concern about the glass sector takeover.

Kia ora,Welcome to Wednesday's Economy Watch where we follow the economic events and trends that affect Aotearoa/New Zealand.I'm David Chaston and this is the international edition from Interest.co.nz.And today we lead with news precious metals prices are having a moment - in US dollars at least, largely because the US dollar is extending its retreat. The same impact is affecting commodities like copper. Prices are rising in the US as a consequence of tariff-taxes which are pushing down the value of the greenback.But first, the dairy Pulse auction for SMP and WMP brought better results than the futures markets expected. SMP was up +1.7% and slightly better than the +1.5% expected. But the big mover was WMP which rose +1.5% when a -4% retreat was expected. The continuation of better prices will be something of a quiet relief in this industry.In the US. the retail impulse continued to expand last week, up +5.1% from a year ago. But the suspicion lingers that much of this is the inclusion of tariff taxes, despite what the CPI indicates.And those tariff taxes hurt the results in the latest Richmond Fed factory survey. This was their worst result in ten months and was led by a sharp retreat in new orders. Input cost growth stayed up.The cost of those tariff-taxes on US companies was on full display in US earnings reports. For Stellantis (Chrysler) it was US$300 mln, for GM US$1 bln. Both ate away at reported profits significantly. It is hard to see these type of companies absorbing costs like this for much longer.Across the Pacific, Taiwanese export orders continued their outstanding growth, up almost another +-25% in June from the same month in 2024 which itself led year-ago levels. It is hugely impressive and continues a very strong 2025 monthly set. It is their electronics industry leading the way.Sentiment in Japan bounced back yesterday as it became a clearer bet that Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is expected to remain in office despite the embarrassing performance of his party at the recent upper house elections. But holding on, he will be a damaged leader. The upstart ‘Japanese First' Sanseito party has emerged as powerful force after these elections, and that was despite a 'secret' Russian campaign to support them (and destabilise Japan) that was exposed before voting.In the Europe, the ECB's latest credit survey fund a twist towards housing lending there. While credit standards for company loans remained broadly unchanged, credit standards tightened slightly for housing loans and more markedly for consumer credit. But this was because housing loan demand continued to increase strongly, while demand for company loans remained weak.In Australia, the vultures are out targeting vulnerable borrowers who are debt stressed. It has ASIC worried and they have launched a review into the debt management and credit repair sector in an effort to protect those experiencing financial hardship. Expect the Commerce Commission here to assess whether it needs to do similar work.Staying in Australia, the RBA released the minutes of its July 8 meeting and they revealed little new. They left its cash rate steady at 3.85% at this meeting, defying market forecasts for a -25 bps cut. The move was passed by majority vote, six in favour and three against. These minutes were full of "wait and see" sentiment, "data dependent" notes. Part of the waiting-to-see is because they doubt Trump will actually do what he threatens. They buy the TACO view apparently.The UST 10yr yield is now at 4.34%, down -3 bps from yesterday at this time. The price of gold will start today at US$3,427/oz, up another +US$34 from yesterday. And that almost matched its record high on April 21.And the silver price has pushed on up over US$39/oz It isn't yet threatening its 2011 peaks (US$48) but the recent climb has some people quite excited.American oil prices are -US$2 softer at just on US$65/bbl but the international Brent price is only down -50 USc at just under US$68.50/bbl.The Kiwi dollar is now at 60 USc and up +25 bps from yesterday. Against the Aussie we are unchanged at 91.6 AUc. Against the euro we are also little-changed at 51.1 euro cents. That all means our TWI-5 starts today at just on 67.5, up +10 bps from yesterday.The bitcoin price starts today at US$119,198 and up +1.1% from this time yesterday. Volatility over the past 24 hours has remained modest, at just under +/-1.2%.You can get more news affecting the economy in New Zealand from interest.co.nz.Kia ora. I'm David Chaston. And we will do this again tomorrow.

THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Tuesday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) Seriously. What Do They Do All Day?/What Does the Commerce Commission Do All Day?/Tribunal Shock Decision/My Darkest Secret/Why Is This Still RacistSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Consumer NZ says complaints against Noel Leeming go beyond its price-matching policy. The tech retailer is facing criminal charges brought by the Commerce Commission - accusing it of making misleading promises. Noel Leeming's strongly rejecting the claim, and says it will vigorously defend its stance. But Consumer NZ chief executive, Jon Duffy, says the company's also charged with misleading people about their consumer rights. "If people are taking things back to the store and getting mislead about their rights to a refund or a replacement, that's very concerning". LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Consumer NZ says complaints against Noel Leeming go beyond its price-matching policy. The tech retailer is facing criminal charges brought by the Commerce Commission - accusing it of making misleading promises. Noel Leeming's strongly rejecting the claim, and says it will vigorously defend its stance. But Consumer NZ chief executive, Jon Duffy, says the company's also charged with misleading people about their consumer rights. "If people are taking things back to the store and getting mislead about their rights to a refund or a replacement, that's very concerning". LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retail NZ is criticising the Commerce Commission's regulatory change to card payment fees. The Commission today announced new regulations on interchange fees, reducing charges to businesses for taking Visa and Mastercard payments. Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young says it's a complex issue - and these changes won't address everything. "This is one part of the merchant service fee, there's about 5 or 6 fees depending on how you structure your payment portfolio that may cut the merchant service fee. The Commerce Commission has said they won't get that fee down to one percent maximum." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retail NZ is criticising the Commerce Commission's regulatory change to card payment fees. The Commission today announced new regulations on interchange fees, reducing charges to businesses for taking Visa and Mastercard payments. Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young says it's a complex issue - and these changes won't address everything. "This is one part of the merchant service fee, there's about 5 or 6 fees depending on how you structure your payment portfolio that may cut the merchant service fee. The Commerce Commission has said they won't get that fee down to one percent maximum." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Commerce Commission has confirmed it will reduce how much banks can charge to process credit card payments, which it says will save Kiwi businesses $90 million a year.

Electricity companies could face further rules if the latest measures to drive down prices don't work. The Electricity Authority's moving to require power companies to charge less for power during off-peak periods and pay more for solar and battery power during peak periods. But it hasn't stated how much lower off-peak prices actually need to be. Commerce Commission Chair John Small —a member of the authority's Energy Competition Task Force— told Heather du Plessis-Allan they're hoping competition will drive down off-peak prices. He says they want to see how things go, but the regulator will need to consider further action if things don't go as planned. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Aimie Hines and Tim Batt. Last night Tasman resident Rose Renton told the story of her home being caught in two floods. Could dredging of the Wai-iti River have made a difference? And if so why does the Tasman District Council restrict it? Tonight the Tasman District Council answers Rose's concerns. The Panel also hears from Sue Chetwin, chair of the Grocery Action Group about the Commerce Commission's plans to take legal action against Foodstuffs North Island and its subsidiary Gilmours Wholesale for alleged "cartel behaviour".

The Commerce Commission is taking Foodstuffs North Island and its subsidiary Gilmours Wholesale to court, citing what it labels 'cartel conduct'. The regulator has alleged that the retailers pressured a supplier into an agreement to redirect supply through them. Competition lawyer Andy Matthews says it's all allegations at this stage, but New Zealand has very 'broad' cartel laws. "What it means is - pretty much any agreement with an actual or potential competitor probably has a cartel provision. And it's up to the party who's entered into the alleged cartel provision to demonstrate an exception that the Commerce Act applies." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kia ora,Welcome to Wednesday's Economy Watch where we follow the economic events and trends that affect Aotearoa/New Zealand.I'm David Chaston and this is the international edition from Interest.co.nz.And today we lead with news US inflation is rising and tariffs are getting the blame.But first, the overnight dairy auction brought prices +1.1% higher in USD terms, +3.6% higher in NZD terms. It was the first rise we have had in these full auctions since yearly May. This time, the expected +2.5% rise in SMP was matched by an unexpected rise of +1.7% in WMP prices. Butter prices were unchanged but cheddar cheese prices fell a sharpish -5.6%.In the US they got the expected rise in CPI inflation for June, up 2.7% when it was rising 2.4% in May. The Fed will have noticed that "core inflation" rose 2.9%. Food prices rose 3.0% and rents up 3.8%. The overall level was restrained by an -8.3% drop in petrol prices. As those year-ago petrol prices normalise in future months, they won't be restraining anything. Just in time for the pass-through of the tariff-taxes. An independent Fed will be concerned about the upwad trajectory.A Fed factory survey in the New York state recorded a rise in July, their first since February. But they are seeing input cost pressure picking up. However they also report it is easier to pass on those costs and seemed relieved about that.Canada also reported its June CPI inflation rate, coming in at 1.9%, up from 1.7% in May.India reported declining merchandise exports in June, in fact their lowest level of the year and almost -8% lower than year-ago levels. Imports fell too. But strong services exports (outsourcing services) balanced things out. In contrast to China, India's rise is domestically-driven, not foreign trade driven, making them somewhat insulated from the tariff-wars.China reported that its Q2-2025 economy expanded +5.2% in inflation-adjusted terms from Q2-2024. This was bang on what Beijing had set as a target, and what observers were expecting them to announce. Strong exports and consumer subsidies helped a lot.China said its retail sales were up +4.8% in June from a year ago, its industrial production up +6.8%. So that suggests they had the best of both worlds - rising industry and rising internal consumption. That they seem to have done this all with only a modest rise in electricity production (+1.7%) would be impressive if it was believable. They are almost certainly making big strides in energy efficiency but it is unlikely as reported. Despite these cred issues however, it is clear that the Chinese economy is not going backward.But even if they aren't as steep as they have been over any of the past 15 months, new house prices in China are still falling. Only 12 of the 70 largest cities had prices that held basically unchanged however. But for resales, none were in that category. The lure of housing speculation in China is but a distant memory. For most developers that is trouble. But pockets like in Shenzhen may be seeing a bit of a shine.In the EU, industrial production surprised with a good +3.4% gain in May, far better than expected and continuing the 2025 expansion. The gains were even stronger in the euro areaSo it will be no surprise to learn that German ZEW sentiment seems to be in full recovery mode; this data for July, so those industrial production gains have likely continued.In Australia, the Westpac/Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment survey showed a third consecutive rise in July, although a small one. Despite the surprise no-cut by the RBA recently, most consumers still expect interest rates to move lower from here. But they remain uncertain about the outlook for the overall economy and jobs. Housing-related sentiment dipped slightly but price expectations remained high.And staying in Australia, the RBA has reached the preliminary view that it would be in the public interest to remove surcharging on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa cards. They also want to lower the cap on interchange fees paid by businesses, and require card networks and large acquirers to publish the fees they charge. They are now in the 'consultation' phase, which will no doubt involve fierce pushback. Here the Commerce Commission has been looking at the same issues, and will report on the New Zealand changes they want to see, very soon.The UST 10yr yield is now at 4.49%, up +6 bps from yesterday at this time.The price of gold will start today at US$3,327/oz, down -US$22 from yesterday at this time.American oil prices are down -50 USc to US$66.50/bbl while the international Brent price is just over US$68.50/bbl.The Kiwi dollar is now at 59.4 USc and down -30 bps from this time yesterday. Against the Aussie we are unchanged at 91.3 AUc. Against the euro we are also unchanged at 51.3 euro cents. That all means our TWI-5 starts today at just under 67.4, and down -10 bps.The bitcoin price starts today at US$117,421 and down -2.0% from this time yesterday. And that takes it back below NZ$200,000. Volatility over the past 24 hours has been modest, still just on +/-1.9%.You can get more news affecting the economy in New Zealand from interest.co.nz.Kia ora. I'm David Chaston. And we will do this again tomorrow.

The Commerce Commission is taking Foodstuffs North Island and its subsidiary Gilmours Wholesale to court, citing what it labels 'cartel conduct'. The regulator has alleged that the retailers pressured a supplier into an agreement to redirect supply through them. Competition lawyer Andy Matthews says it's all allegations at this stage, but New Zealand has very 'broad' cartel laws. "What it means is - pretty much any agreement with an actual or potential competitor probably has a cartel provision. And it's up to the party who's entered into the alleged cartel provision to demonstrate an exception that the Commerce Act applies." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Commerce Commission is taking Foodstuffs North Island and Gilmours to court, alleging cartel behaviour. 

The Commerce Commission is filing civil proceedings against Foodstuffs North Island and the wholesaler Gilmours - alleging cartel conduct. Matthews Law competition and commercial lawyer Andy Matthews spoke to Corin Dann.

In today's episode, Auckland risks being cast into obscurity as "a global city" according to a just released report; The Commerce Commission is filing civil proceedings against Foodstuffs North Island and the wholesaler Gilmours - alleging cartel conduct; The future of four polytechs is uncertain as the government moves to un-wind the merger of Polytechs into the super-institute Te Pūkenga; You might pay $30,000 or more to a real estate salesperson to sell your home. But is it worth the money?

Send us your feedback In this episode Corporate Partner Tayla Johnston is joined by Beini Guo, a Director in the Corporate Finance team at  PwC. Beini, a Chartered Financial Analyst with more than a decade of M&A experience, shares insights into the various services provided by PwC's Corporate Finance team, the lifecycle of a typical deal, and the impact of global events on valuation. Tayla and Beini also discuss common deal issues, M&A trends and how PwC is utilsing AI. [01:04] Beini provides an overview of the different teams within PwC's deals umbrella, including M&A advisory, valuation and modelling teams, and specialised infrastructure advisory.[01:53] Tayla and Beni discuss on how both PwC and MinterEllisonRuddWatts collaborate across different teams to provide comprehensive services to clients.[02:50] Beini explains the services offered by the M&A advisory and valuation teams, including sell-side and buy-side advisory and capital raising.[04:55] Beini and Tayla discuss how geopolitical tensions and other global events affect valuations and modelling.[06:00] Beini discusses the lifecycle of a deal from the corporate finance perspective, focusing on the sell-side process.[07:35] Beini explains how the process changes depending on whether it's a partial or full sale of a business.[08:20] Tayla asks Beini to discuss the key points of client interaction throughout the deal process. The pair discuss the importance of preparation.[09:26] Beini  and Tayla discuss how the approach to the deal can change depending on the type of client (for example; private equity vs. family-owned business) and the size of the deal.[12:09] Tayla asks about the differences in preparation and approach between competitive bid processes and bilateral negotiations.[13:36] Beini explains how PwC collaborates with other advisors, including legal, tax, and commercial advisors, to ensure a smooth process.[14:45] The conversation moves towards common deal issues such as value mismatch, warranties and indemnities, and key person risks.[18:50] Beini highlights the impact of regulatory bodies like the Overseas Investment Office and  New Zealand's Commerce Commission on deal-making and the importance of early legal consultation.[20:41] Beini shares how PwC is incorporating AI into its processes to enhance efficiency and maintain data security.[22:41] Beini provides insights into the first quarter of 2025, noting an increase in trade deals and continuedinterest in sectors like IT and financial services.Information in this episode is accurate as at the date of recording Monday, 12 May 2025.Please contact Tayla Johnston, or our For show notes and additional resources visit minterellison.co.nz/podcasts

The Commerce Commission has sent a warning to Foodstuffs North Island for 'uncooperative and unreasonable' behaviour towards a supplier.

The Commerce Commission draft finding has asked major supermarket players to loosen their grip on the market. Changes are proposed to the Grocery Supply Code. In response, the Grocery Action Group says the plans aren't enough and shoppers deserve much better. Grocery Action Group chairperson Sue Chetwin spoke to Corin Dann.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday 5th June 2025, The Māori Party's Privileges Committee decision finally comes to a vote. Political commentator Bryce Edwards speaks to Heather. Matthew Lane, the general manager of Night 'n Day reacts to the Commerce Commission's latest attempt to crack down on anti-competitive practices from the supermarkets. Former trade negotiator Stephen Jacobi says the Government is making good strides in its effort to avoid further tariffs from Donald Trump. Plus, the Huddle talks about Westgold raising their prices in response to butter raffles being held at schools around the country. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Commerce Commission is proposing to give grocery suppliers a leg up in their dealings with the supermarket giants. The commission has proposed updates to the Grocery Supply Code, including stopping retailers charging suppliers for stocking shelves and requiring retailers to keep records on how they're complying with certain parts of the code. Night 'n Day general manager Matthew Lane says this crackdown comes with encouraging implications for the sector. "What's most encouraging for us is that the CommComm's cracking down on the fact that other retailers are being charged more for their wholesale than what the supermarkets are actually retailing the same products for." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Commerce Commission is proposing changes to the Grocery Supply Code but Consumer NZ chief executive Jon Duffy believes the changes don't go far enough. Duffy spoke to Corin Dann.

The Commerce Commission's making moves to level the playing field in the grocery sector. It's found the big supermarket players are shovelling in billions of dollars a year through supplier charges and promotional pricing, which largely isn't reaching consumers. It's proposed a simplified grocery code that limits the range of payments supermarkets can charge suppliers. Grocery Commissioner Pierre van Heerden told Mike Hosking it's about taking away all the carve-outs. He says smaller suppliers currently have difficulty pushing back against large supermarkets because of the power imbalance. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warehouse is pushing for potential 'right to repair' legislation to hold overseas manufacturers accountable. The retailer's among companies taking part in the select committee process for the Right to Repair Amendment Bill. It aims to reduce waste, create a repair workforce, and cut costs for consumers. Warehouse Group Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing GM Phil Cumming told Mike Hosking the Commerce Commission isn't doing enough when overseas products don't meet expectations. He says consumers are often turning to retailers instead of manufacturers, which is why clearer, stronger rules are needed. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More people could be set to fly Jetstar due to ongoing angst around aviation prices. This comes following a Commerce Commission complaint from a man who was stunned by the cost of an Air New Zealand direct flight to Wellington. The airline defended its prices, saying their fares reflected the 'true cost of flying'. Jetstar CEO Stephanie Tully told Mike Hosking travel remains important to people, and they play an important role. She says most people are feeling a cost of living pressure, and that's where Jetstar becomes a good choice. It's also seen an uptick in reliability. Tully says that based on their operational performance report, they were more reliable than Air New Zealand in March. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A $1.4 billion upgrade could be on the way for Transpower's Cook Strait electricity cable. The 610 kilometre link is a transmission system connecting the North and South islands, installed in 1991. The existing cables are likely to reach their end of life in the late 2030s. Energy Resources Aotearoa CEO John Carnegie told Mike Hosking the Commerce Commission will need to review that. He says they'll need to ensure the numbers are robust and the programme executable. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government's competition watchdog is keeping a close eye on the cost of domestic air travel, but the chair of the Commerce Commission's all but ruled out a market study suggesting it would do nothing to improve prices. John Small said the Commission has been investigating whether to do a competition study into the domestic aviation market, similar to recent studies into building supplies, the grocery and fuel markets. Small spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Commerce Commission has confirmed it will not be formally putting the cost of flying under the microscope. Rangitata MP James Meager has suggested the Government could help keep fares competitive by supporting regional airlines. It's been revealed some flights to Pacific Island nations are cheaper than certain trips within New Zealand. Commission Chair Dr John Small says flying short routes with low demand is very expensive. "There's no law against charging high prices - that's the reality of things in New Zealand. If it's a monopoly - on a monopoly route - it's potentially able to be regulated." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CEO of Consumer NZ, Jon Duffy joins Kathryn to detail some wins the organisation has had with the Commerce Commission over some issues it's raised

The Commerce Commission has accepted legally binding commitments from KiwiRail to compensate customers impacted by ferry breakdowns in 2023. Interislander has also committed to updating its policies and terms and conditions to make sure they are in line with consumer law. Vanessa Horne from the Commerce Commission spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Commerce Commission says it'll take KiwiRail to court if it doesn't compensate ferry customers. The rail provider's agreed to pay those disrupted in three Interislander cancellations in early 2023. KiwiRail had previously treated delays and cancellations from mechanical faults as out of their control, which the Commerce Commission argued misled customers. The Commission's Vanessa Horne told Mike Hosking KiwiRail should've taken action on its own accord. She says good businesses get ahead of the game to ensure customers are cared for. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Thursday 17th of April, the Government has announced a $20b plan to upgrade our health infrastructure, so now we need some action. The Commerce Commission has pushed KiwiRail to compensate the victims of cancelled Interislander ferries. Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson wrap the short week, and we deal with Kate's first boomer moment. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A convenience store chain looking to bust up the big supermarket duopoly has a shopping list of what's needed to achieve that. The Woolworths and Foodstuffs chains dominate New Zealand's supermarket sector. A 2022 Commerce Commission report found they're making more than a million dollars in excess profits every day. Night ‘n Day chain general manager Matthew Lane spoke to Lisa Owen.

Auckland Airport is cutting its fees after the competition watch dog found it's overcharging to the tune of almost two hundred million dollars. A final report by the Commerce Commission into Auckland Airport's fees through to 2027 found the airport is targetting excess profit, through aircraft landing and passengers terminal charges. Cath O'Brien from the Board of Airline Representatives spoke to Lisa Owen.

Auckland Airport is lowering its prices after the Commerce Commission said it was overcharging by $190 million. The Commission has today published its final report on Auckland Airport's 2022-2027 price setting event, concluding the Airport's forecast revenue is excessive and its targeted returns are unreasonably high. The Commission says businesses and consumers are the ones likely carrying much of this cost-burden. Last year Air New Zealand said the airport's charges were expected to add about $46 to the price of a domestic ticket by 2032. Last year the Commission issued a draft report suggesting prices were too high - and Auckland Airport said it would consider lowering them once the final report came through. Today, that report confirms the findings and as a result Auckland Airport said it would drop prices for the remaining two years of the price period. Commissioner Vhari McWha talks to Kathryn.

Auckland Airport is lowering its prices after the Commerce Commission said it was overcharging by $190 million

The Telecommunications Users Association says mobile phone consumers need concrete action over the difficulties of switching between mobile or broadband suppliers