Mark Bedford, Board Chairman

Proposed Consumer NZ rule changes

As Consumer NZ celebrates its 50th year, we can be thankful the organisation remains as relevant today as it was when it was launched in 1959. But we are not resting on our laurels.

To ensure the organisation is well placed to meet future demands, the Board will be recommending to the Annual General Meeting several amendments to the Consumer NZ rules. Those amendments, either routine in nature or to tidy up anomalies created by previous rule changes, will ensure the Board is operating "best practice" policies as a leading not-for-profit organisation. The amendments can be seen in the About Us section.

Importantly the AGM will be informed that the Emily Carpenter Consumer Charitable Trust is to be expanded into a new Consumer Foundation. This Foundation will continue with the valuable work and aims of the Emily Carpenter Trust, which are largely to promote consumer welfare and public awareness of issues of importance to consumers. The proposed new Foundation is expected to significantly broaden the profile of the Trust. A key objective will be to increase funding for the new Foundation to better meet the aims of promoting consumer welfare and public awareness of consumer issues.

It’s more vital than ever consumers have access to relevant, independent advice and the proposed changes to the rules, and the launch of a new Consumer Foundation will ensure Consumer NZ is at the forefront of providing this information.

Mark Bedford
Chairman

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