Media releases
See the media releases Consumer NZ has issued.
See the media releases Consumer NZ has issued.
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Smaller power providers lead the pack 1 June 2023
Find money in weird places: simple ways to save money this winter 25 May 2023
Consumer NZ: Trust in banks diving sharply amid soaring profit announcements 12 May 2023
Consumer NZ warning about dodgy car finance deals 9 May 2023
Smaller banks are outperforming larger players when it comes to customer satisfaction 19 April 2023
Consumer NZ: So-called supermarket 'specials'uncovered 6 April 2023
Consumer NZ finds supermarket aisles awash with dubious green claims 28 March 2023
Consumer NZ – New Zealand renters are now more concerned about paying for food than rent 14 March 2023
Ultra-processed foods pack a sodium punch 14 March 2023
Consumer NZ reveals who is top of the shops 9 March 2023
Buyer beware - hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles fail to meet fuel efficiency claims 8 March 2023
Consumer NZ: TV shop customers beware 1 March 2023
Consumer NZ lodges Cook Strait ferries complaint with the Commerce Commission 27 February 2023
Consumer NZ: Our Cook Strait ferry operators need to up their game 23 February 2023
Consumer NZ: Affected by Cyclone Gabrielle? Know your rights 21 February 2023
Consumer NZ: Watch out for second-rate sunnies 10 February 2023
Consumer NZ: Affected by flooding? Know your rights 31 January 2023
Kmart saucepan: top of the pots 25 January 2023
Consumer NZ: So-called supermarket 'specials' uncovered 19 January 2023
Customers in HelloFresh Hell 17 January 2023
Use – don’t lose – your gift card credit 5 January 2023
How to save at least $1200 in 2023 29 December 2022
Boxing Day tips for bargain hunters 26 December 2022
Sunbed operators continue to put high-risk customers in danger 20 December 2022
Consumer NZ investigates: Which mince pies slay this Christmas? 16 December 2022
Half of New Zealanders are saving less than 5% of their income 15 December 2022
House and contents insurance costs are a growing concern 13 December 2022
Why are we waiting? Consumer NZ investigates more call wait times 2 December 2022
Slip, slop - slapped on the wrist 30 November 2022
Device repairability is expensive or non-existent – Consumer NZ has the solution 29 November 2022
Is your local supermarket scanning your face as well as your food? 24 November 2022
Information about repairability and reliability lacking at big-box retailers 18 November 2022
Beware of Black Friday 'bargains' 16 November 2022
Some electricity retailers need to sharpen their pencils when it comes to price 4 November 2022
Add-on car insurance products offer meagre benefits to consumers 25 October 2022
Consumer NZ: Jetstar leaving passengers out of pocket 20 October 2022
Consumer NZ: Smaller providers delivering higher levels of mobile and internet customer satisfaction 17 October 2022
Consumer NZ: Jetstar misleading passengers about their rights under the Civil Aviation Act 13 October 2022
Significant power savings available for savvy shoppers 4 October 2022
Prospective tenants encouraged to swap private information for a place to call home 27 September 2022
Consumer NZ wants supermarkets to stop dodgy ‘specials’ 22 September 2022
Unfair terms and conditions ruining residents’ golden years 21 September 2022
Flight cancelled or delayed? Consumer NZ wants airlines to be upfront about passenger rights 15 September 2022
How consumer-friendly is your telco provider? 13 September 2022
Slip, slop - slap on the wrist 6 September 2022
Misleading delivery fees at Nando's 2 September 2022
Consumer NZ welcomes push to ensure duopoly opens up wholesale access to groceries 24 August 2022
Toilet paper: higher price doesn't always equal higher quality 24 August 2022
It's now illegal to ignore 'Do Not Knock' stickers 16 August 2022
Media release: Your rights if your Air New Zealand flight is cancelled 11 August 2022
Media release: Consumer NZ survey finds struggling New Zealanders are turning to prepay 8 August 2022
Media release: New Zealand’s big power providers fail to satisfy customers 2 August 2022
Media release: Freedom Furniture fails to deliver 26 July 2022
Media release: Restaurants’ hidden delivery fees risk breaching the Fair Trading Act 15 July 2022
Media release: Online travel agent eDreams causing nightmares 14 July 2022
Consumer NZ welcomes swift moves from the Government to address lack of supermarket competition 6 July 2022
Worse than water – the laundry detergents you should avoid, plus the best buys 28 June 2022
Consumer NZ sunscreen results – if you’re hitting the slopes, use sunscreen you can trust 10 June 2022
Consumer NZ welcomes bold steps by Government to address competition issues in the supermarket sector 30 May 2022
New Zealanders now trust the supermarkets less than the banking industry 27 May 2022
Consumer NZ launches petition to end super-sized supermarket profits 10 May 2022
Check gift card expiry dates to avoid giving Mum a dud this Mother's Day 5 May 2022
The Bank of Mum and Dad is the fifth biggest owner-occupier lender in New Zealand 28 April 2022
Teenager takes dodgy reseller to disputes tribunal and wins 21 April 2022
'A systemic failure' – Consumer NZ mystery shop of insurance points to an outdated approach to mental health 14 April 2022
Consumer NZ – customers’ trust eroding for big banks 12 April 2022
Consumer NZ names best supermarket hot cross buns this Easter 8 April 2022
Consumer NZ - Unfair KiwiSaver loophole could see thousands shaved off your pay packet 7 April 2022
Over $1000? April power price rises are a shock for some customers 1 April 2022
Global pressure to rein in buy now pay later services 24 March 2022
The majority of New Zealanders are driving less to counter costly fuel prices 22 March 2022
Consumer NZ reveals only one product met SPF label claims in latest round of tests 18 March 2022
Dud detergents: some powder dishwasher detergents clean only marginally better than water 15 March 2022
Plastic not so fantastic: Consumer NZ reveals top five worst packaging offenders 10 March 2022
Consumer NZ feels supermarket report recommendations should go further 8 March 2022
Cost of living is New Zealanders’ top concern 7 March 2022
Consumer NZ finds big price differences on Rapid Antigen Tests for sale 2 March 2022
Consumer NZ finds controlled and prescription drugs in sports supplements 24 February 2022
Beware of the energy vampire – the humble garage fridge could be driving up your power bill 11 February 2022
Some New Zealand olive oils may not be as local as you think 10 February 2022
Over thirty? You could be paying more to swipe right 8 February 2022
New year, new me: revamping your finances for 2022 1 January 2022
Unfashionable: NZ clothing labels risk misleading consumers about their sustainability claims 22 December 2021
In a major shift, Consumer NZ will only recommend appliances that last 9 December 2021
Consumer NZ’s first round of sunscreen test results for summer – six met claims, three didn’t 7 December 2021
House and contents insurance premiums more expensive than ever, so it pays to shop around 2 December 2021
Financial stress makes Christmas not so jolly for two out of five New Zealanders 30 November 2021
Consumer NZ - Nearly one in five New Zealanders get sunburnt most years 26 November 2021
Small towns, big scoops: Consumer NZ finds best value hot chips 24 November 2021
How a tax accountant was swindled out of $100k 16 November 2021
Consumer NZ weighs up budget buys vs pricey presents 11 November 2021
Consumer NZ questions ‘specials’ at big box retailers 4 November 2021
Consume This tackles the big consumer issues 2 November 2021
Unlikely alliance formed to combat supermarket power 20 October 2021
Pay cheque to pay cheque – half a million New Zealanders have no savings 18 October 2021
Rogue ride-shares costing customers more than expected 30 September 2021
Buy-now, pay-later raking in $10m+ in late fees annually 24 September 2021
Catastrophe! Cattery blunder leads to death of beloved pet 23 September 2021
Shocking stuff: consumers in lower income areas paying more for powers 19 September 2021
Consumer NZ launches Utua atu to help vulnerable consumers 16 September 2021
Consumer NZ lodges complaint over retirement villages’ care claims 15 September 2021
Recyclable ‘in theory’ doesn’t cut it – Consumer NZ 14 September 2021
More than 50% of telco customers report problems 14 September 2021
Consumer NZ: New Zealanders getting a raw deal when it comes to gift cards 27 August 2021
Consumer NZ: Younger consumers more focused on right to repair 26 August 2021
Consumer NZ’s crowdfunding campaign means more sunscreens will be tested this summer 24 August 2021
Money down the drain! Consumer NZ test finds majority of multi-purpose cleaners perform only slightly better than water 9 August 2021
New Zealand’s safest trampoline gains the Consumer Trusted tick. 2 August 2021
Consumer NZ product tests find that lower price doesn't always equal lower quality 30 July 2021
Consumer NZ: Kmart’s Anko window vacuum sucks, for all the wrong reasons 8 July 2021
ASB KiwiSaver ranks last for customer satisfaction, Consumer NZ survey finds 1 July 2021
Media release: Melanoma in her twenties, Alyssa wants sunscreen she can trust 30 June 2021
Bank complaints on the rise, Consumer NZ’s survey shows 17 June 2021
Best and worst power companies revealed in Consumer NZ survey 3 June 2021
Clothing store Shekou risks misleading shoppers about refund rights 28 May 2021
$63 million fraud committed by sunscreen test lab 11 May 2021
Consumer NZ introduces repairability scores for mobile phones 10 May 2021
Consumer NZ lodges complaint about SPF claims for seven sunscreens 27 April 2021
New Zealand ranks second to last in international packaging recyclability trial 23 April 2021
NZ households could save $388 on average by switching energy plans 21 April 2021
Two more sunscreens fail to meet SPF claims 8 April 2021
Shoppers not convinced supermarket “specials” are genuine, Consumer NZ survey finds 8 April 2021
Over-the-counter eyelash serums can come with nasty side effects 29 March 2021
Consumer NZ put a $29 Kmart blender to test, and it did not go well 24 March 2021
Media alert: Sunscreen Bill highlights need for mandatory standard 12 March 2021
Consumer NZ: Time for telcos to come clean on consumer bills 9 March 2021
Consumer NZ: Your rights to refunds for cancelled events 4 March 2021
Dicey terms and conditions leave some candlelight concertgoers in the dark 3 March 2021
Consumer NZ: Review of the Retirement Villages Act is overdue 25 February 2021
Two out of three Kiwis support clampdown on unhealthy food marketing to kids 10 February 2021
Consumer NZ testing finds induction cooktops trump gas 2 February 2021
Consumer NZ calls out unfair terms in retirement village contracts 2 February 2021
Consumer NZ finds the Instachill Evaporative Cooler to be a stone-cold failure 21 January 2021
Consumer NZ Board announces CEO Sue Chetwin resignation 13 Nov 2019
The Board of Consumer NZ has accepted, with great regret, the resignation of its chief executive officer Sue Chetwin.
Consumer protections in electricity market long overdue 3 Oct 2019
Protections for vulnerable electricity consumers and an end to misleading “prompt-payment discounts” are being welcomed by Consumer NZ.
Majority support banning medicine ads 7 August 2019
Consumer NZ survey finds most Kiwis want drug company advertising to end.
Christchurch funeral directors Lamb & Hayward achieve Consumer Trusted accreditation 30 Jul 2019
Christchurch-based funeral home first to achieve Consumer Trusted recognition.
Shoe Clinic first to five years with Consumer Trusted accreditation 25 Jul 2019
Consistently high standards of customer care earn retailer Consumer Trusted recognition.
Insurance market not working for consumers 24 Jun 2019
Consumer NZ's latest survey research has found significant problems in the insurance market.
Best curtains & blinds for keeping warm revealed 6 Jun 2019
Consumer NZ testing reveals the right curtains and blinds can keep your home warm and comfortable this winter.
Don’t fall for retailers’ “out of warranty” excuses 23 May 2019
Consumer rights don’t end when the product warranty does.
Banks pushing unwanted credit cards and insurance 24 Apr 2019
Consumer NZ’s latest banking survey found one in five bank customers had been offered unwanted financial products.
Satisfaction with KiwiSaver providers drops 17 Apr 2019
Majority of KiwiSaver providers in our survey saw a fall in customer satisfaction.
One in 10 Kiwis uncomfortable asking if medical treatment is necessary 3 Apr 2019
One in 10 New Zealanders don’t feel comfortable asking their doctor about whether a treatment or test is necessary, a survey by Consumer NZ and the Council of Medical Colleges has found.
Consumer launches guide to chemical disposal 1 Feb 2019
Consumer NZ compiles a free council-by-council guide to disposing of unwanted household chemicals.
5 more sunscreens fail to meet SPF claims 30 Jan 2019
Another five sunscreens have failed to meet SPF label claims with one product only giving low protection.
Major problems in life insurance industry 29 Jan 2019
Major problems in the life industry insurance are leading to consumers being sold poor-value products and paying higher premiums.
Consumer NZ rejects Cancer Society’s sunscreen testing claims 29 Jan 2019
Consumer NZ rejects the Cancer Society’s response to the results of its latest testing.
Jetstar forced to ditch the ticks 17 Mar 2016
Jetstar has been forced to back down on opt-out pricing. The airline yesterday signed formal undertakings with the Commerce Commission agreeing to stop pre-ticking boxes for travel insurance, seat selection and check-in baggage.
Consumer groups put focus on fast food 15 Mar 2016
Consumer organisations around the world are calling on major fast-food companies, McDonald’s, KFC and Subway, to make a global commitment to stop serving meat from animals raised with the routine use of antibiotics important to human medicine.
LG & Apple phones win Consumer NZ award 15 Mar 2016
Apple and LG are winners of the 2016 Consumer NZ Top Brand awards for mobile phones.
Two telcos win People’s Choice award 23 Feb 2016
Skinny Mobile and Inspire Net are the latest winners of Consumer NZ People’s Choice awards. Skinny Mobile won in the Mobile Service Provider category and Inspire Net in the ISP category.
Gyms risk breaching unfair terms ban 04 Feb 2016
Consumer NZ is calling on gyms to get their membership contracts into shape.
Cheap sunnies can do the job 22 Dec 2015
Protecting your eyes from the sun doesn’t have to cost the earth. A Consumer NZ test of 60 sunglasses, ranging in price from $2 to $270, found cheap sunnies that provided UV protection as good as that provided by expensive pairs.
Supermarket survey puts spotlight on prices 07 Dec 2015
Consumer NZ’s annual supermarket price survey has put Pak’nSave in the lead for budget buys.
Plain English Award winner announced 20 Nov 2015
International consultancy Castalia was the big winner at the 2015 Plain English Awards held at Wellington’s City Gallery last night.
Fraud Awareness Week kicks off 16 Nov 2015
Fraud Awareness Week, which runs until 21 November, is targeting scammers who masquerade as legitimate companies to dupe consumers and small businesses out of their cash.
Mitre 10 and 100% Appliances get award 13 Nov 2015
Home appliance and technology store 100% Appliances, and hardware and DIY store Mitre 10 have been awarded Consumer NZ’s 2015 People’s Choice Awards.
Best and worst retailers revealed 11 Nov 2015
Consumer NZ has announced the best and worst performers from its 2015 retailer satisfaction survey.
Colour-care shampoo doesn’t fight fade 11 Nov 2015
Supermarket shelves are full of shampoos for dyed hair, claiming they help fight colour fade, but a Consumer NZ test has found you’d be better off using just water to retain your colour.
Vinegar and baking soda beats 13 cleaners 06 Nov 2015
Consumer NZ put 16 cleaners to the test and found only one to recommend. Surprisingly it found a home-made mixture of baking soda and white vinegar cleaned better than most manufactured cleaners.
Flushable wipe claims don’t wash 21 Oct 2015
Consumer NZ wants manufacturers of flushable wipes to drop claims these products are “flushable”.
Announcing the finalists for the 2015 Plain English Awards 20 Oct 2015
2015 is the tenth year of the WriteMark Plain English Awards. The Awards celebrate clear, concise documents and websites – and the people and organisations who create them. This year judges had 140 entries to read through, and a hard job choosing between them.
Flick Electric Co. and Triton Hearing receive Consumer Trusted accreditation 15 Oct 2015
Consumer NZ is delighted to announce electricity provider Flick Electric Co. and hearing health care provider Triton Hearing have received Consumer Trusted accreditation.
Green cleaners no better than water 04 Sept 2015
Manufacturers of laundry balls market them as an “environmentally friendly” cleaning option. But a Consumer NZ test has found you’d be better off saving your money and just using water to do your laundry.
Consumer groups take aim at Jetstar 13 Jul 2015
Consumer NZ and CHOICE are campaigning to ditch the ticks.
Big power companies rate lowest 07 Jul 2015
Big power companies received the lowest ratings for customer satisfaction in Consumer NZ’s latest annual survey.
Looking for NZ’s best & worst documents 01 Jul 2015
We want the best and worst documents or webpages you’ve come across for entry into the People’s Choice category of the annual Plain English Awards.
93 percent ticked off with Jetstar 22 Jun 2015
A Consumer NZ survey found 93 percent of respondents want Jetstar to stop using pre-ticked boxes for travel insurance, seat selection and check-in baggage.
Enforcement key to new lending rules 05 Jun 2015
New responsible lending rules that come into effect this week will need to be actively enforced to rein-in lenders who target vulnerable consumers.
Consumer NZ survey reveals the most reliable appliance brands 03 Jun 2015
Products may have become more complex in the past decade but their reliability hasn’t suffered according to the latest Consumer NZ survey.
Consumer says ditch the ticks 20 May 2015
Consumer NZ is calling on Jetstar to stop confusing customers and ditch the use of pre-ticked boxes that risk misleading people into paying for extras.
Time for a sunbed ban 07 May 2015
A Consumer NZ mystery shop of 60 sunbed operators found more than 40 percent failed to implement key safety checks.
Help comes for elderly UFB customers 01 May 2015
Consumer NZ has negotiated a deal with Slingshot to provide cheaper services to the residents of Marshall Court Apartments in Miramar, Wellington.
Our take on Global Mode fight 10 Apr 2015
Recently, Lightbox (Spark), MediaWorks, SKY and TVNZ threatened Slingshot, Orcon, Bypass Network Services and other ISPs with legal action unless they cease operation of Global Mode and other similar services in New Zealand.
Be wary of extended warranties 02 Apr 2015
A Consumer NZ mystery shop of big-box retailers has found sales staff promoting extended warranties with misleading claims.
Local banks rated the best for service 30 Mar 2015
Consumer NZ’s latest bank survey found local banks achieved the highest customer satisfaction ratings.
Consumer NZ campaign targets unfair contract terms 16 Mar 2015
Consumer NZ has launched a campaign to target the use of unfair terms in consumer contracts.
Enough of the ‘in-salts’ 16 Mar 2015
When it comes to helping consumers make healthy food choices, highlighting the salt content of foods Kiwi kids love is a good place to start.
Air NZ warning a win for consumers 06 Mar 2015
The move to stop Air New Zealand and other businesses using ‘opt out’ pricing is to be congratulated, Consumer NZ says.
Consumer, Cancer Society call for outright ban on sunbeds 25 Feb 2015
Consumer NZ and the Cancer Society are calling for an outright ban on commercial sunbeds.
Putting our trust in the best 05 Feb 2015
Our most recent survey of mobile providers found 2degrees was the stand-out performer.