Displaying 1 - 24 of 32 results.

Consumer Affairs Minister Simon Power today released research into third-tier lending ahead of the Government’s Financial Summit to be held in Auckland on Thursday. 

The main piece of research, undertaken by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, identified 218 third-tier lenders (lenders who provide personal, non-mortgage loans, excluding banks, building societies, and credit unions) operating in New Zealand, and examined the advertising methods they used.

Key findings include that:

  • Simon Power
  • Consumer Affairs

Consumer Affairs Minister Simon Power today announced the line-up of speakers and chairs for the Government’s Financial Summit to be held in Auckland next Thursday.

The summit will bring together 250 people from community groups, budgeting services, NGOs, banks, financial regulators, and credit companies to look at ways of tackling the problem of irresponsible lending.

  • Simon Power
  • Consumer Affairs

Sir John Anderson will chair the Government's Financial Summit which will target unscrupulous credit companies, Consumer Affairs Minister Simon Power announced today.

The summit will bring together community groups, budgeting services, banks, and credit companies to look at ways of tackling the problem of irresponsible lending. It will be held in Auckland on August 11.

Mr Power said he was delighted Sir John Anderson had agreed to chair the summit.

  • Simon Power
  • Consumer Affairs

The Government is to target unscrupulous credit companies that prey on unwary consumers, the Minister of Commerce and Consumers Affairs, Simon Power, announced today.

He told the Financial Literacy Summit in Wellington that he is organising a financial summit that will look at ways to tackle the problem.

"It's time to make changes in the area of consumer credit.

"There are gaps in the system that allow the unscrupulous to take advantage of the unwary when it comes to access to consumer finance in these tough economic times.

  • Simon Power
  • Commerce
  • Consumer Affairs

Minister of Consumer Affairs John Boscawen was today pleased to announce that the Consumer Law Reform Bill has been approved by Cabinet and will be tabled in Parliament for consideration when the House reconvenes early next month.

"ACT and National in Government are committed to ensuring that New Zealand consumer law is effective and workable.  The Consumer Law Reform Bill delivers on that commitment," Mr Boscawen said.

  • John Boscawen
  • Consumer Affairs

Minister of Consumer Affairs John Boscawen today launched Scam Awareness Week 2011 – a joint annual initiative run by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, as part of an Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce (ACFT) campaign, and focused on raising awareness of scams in the community.

  • John Boscawen
  • Consumer Affairs

Yesterday was the deadline for financial advisers to join a free dispute resolution scheme, meaning that consumers and small businesses can get independent assistance if they have a dispute with a financial service provider, Minister of Consumer Affairs John Boscawen said today.

“This was the final stage of the implementation of the Financial Service Providers Dispute Resolution regime that began in December and covers banks, insurance companies, financial advisers, finance companies, brokers, money managers and KiwiSaver providers,” Mr Boscawen said.

  • John Boscawen
  • Consumer Affairs

Minister of Consumer Affairs John Boscawen today announced that a Consumer Law Reform Bill to strengthen consumers' rights and simplify business compliance will be introduced to Parliament later this year.

"The Consumer Law Reform Bill represents the most significant changes to consumer laws in more than two decades and brings much-needed clarity in an era of online shopping, extended warranties and self-checkouts," Mr Boscawen said

  • John Boscawen
  • Consumer Affairs

Minister of Consumer Affairs John Boscawen was today pleased to announce that the new digital strategy of the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) meets all the Government's criteria for a single portal co

  • John Boscawen
  • Consumer Affairs

Minister of Consumer Affairs John Boscawen today announced that Financial Dispute Resolution, and the Banking Ombudsman Scheme, have been formally approved as financial service dispute resolution s

  • John Boscawen
  • Consumer Affairs

Minister of Consumer Affairs John Boscawen today released the annual reports of Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal (MVDT) adjudicators Chris Cornwell and Nicola Wills for the period July 1 2009-June 3

  • John Boscawen
  • Consumer Affairs

Minister of Consumer Affairs Heather Roy today released the 'Consumer Law Reform' discussion document - the result of work the Ministry of Consumer Affairs has undertaken over the past year to revi

  • Heather Roy
  • Consumer Affairs

Minister of Consumer Affairs Heather Roy today announced that Financial Services Complaints Limited (FSCL) and the Insurance & Savings Ombudsman (ISO) are the first financial sector consumer di

  • Heather Roy
  • Consumer Affairs

New requirements for water efficiency labels will help consumers make informed choices about water consumption and relative water efficiency when purchasing washing machines, dishwashers, taps, toi

  • Heather Roy
  • Consumer Affairs

Minister of Consumer Affairs Heather Roy was today pleased to launch Complaintline - a new gateway website for disputes resolution and investigation agencies that provide the New Zealand public wit

  • Heather Roy
  • Consumer Affairs

With Christmas fast approaching New Zealanders should be aware of their rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) before making purchasing decisions or buying an extended warranty, Minister of

  • Heather Roy
  • Consumer Affairs

Minister of Consumer Affairs Heather Roy today congratulated National MP Amy Adams on the passing of her Fair Trading (Soliciting on Behalf of Charities) Amendment Bill through its First Reading in

  • Heather Roy
  • Consumer Affairs

Financial Services Complaints Limited (FSCL) has become the first body to apply to set up a financial sector consumer disputes resolution scheme under the Financial Service Providers (Registration

  • Heather Roy
  • Consumer Affairs

Minister of Consumer Affairs Heather Roy today released the National Consumer Survey 2009 - a survey of consumer awareness, experience and perceptions, and consumer legislation conducted from June-

  • Heather Roy
  • Consumer Affairs

Following on from the success of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs-led Financial Summit in 2007, Minister of Consumer Affairs Heather Roy will this week host Financial Summit 2009 at the Otara Music

  • Heather Roy
  • Consumer Affairs

Minister of Consumer Affairs Heather Roy today released the annual reports from Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal (MVDT) adjudicators Chris Cornwell (upper North Island) and Nicola Wills (lower North

  • Heather Roy
  • Consumer Affairs

Minister of Consumer Affairs Heather Roy today released a discussion document - titled the 'Review of the Operation of the Credit Contracts and Consumers Finance Act 2003' - which reviews consumer

  • Heather Roy
  • Consumer Affairs

Following on from the success of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs-led Financial Summit in 2007, Minister of Consumer Affairs Heather Roy will this week host Financial Summit 2009 at the Otara Music

  • Heather Roy
  • Consumer Affairs

Minister of Consumer Affairs Heather Roy has spoken to the First Reading of a Bill designed to improve the Motor Vehicle Sales Act 2003 and make changes to the registration of motor vehicle traders

  • Heather Roy
  • Consumer Affairs