Useful links
External Links to Related Consumer Sites
New Zealand
International
New Zealand sites
This is a central point of information for consumers about a range of disputes resolution and investigation services that exist, and how you can contact them.
Government
A to Z of Government Departments - NZ Government website provides an alphabetical list of all Government Departments.
The Accident Compensation Corporation is a Crown entity responsible for administering New Zealand's accident compensation scheme. The ACC website contains information on injury prevention, claims and care, levies and information for providers.
Commerce Commission
Agency who has responsibility for enforcing the Fair Trading Act and the Commerce Act.
ACE Consumer
The Ministry's online educational resource for Social Studies students and teachers.
Their responsibilities include: delivering services and information that support productive workplaces, and workforce and community participation, to employers, employees, workplaces, communities, businesses and unions providing policy advice and analysis to government on labour and employment related matters.
Department of Internal Affairs
They issue passports; administer civil unions; register births, deaths and marriages; administer citizenship applications; ensure gambling is fair, legal and honest; enforce censorship law and anti-spam law and promote internet safety; contribute to community development by administering Lottery Grants, Community Grants Schemes, Grants Online and Trusts; and provide support services and policy advice for Ministers of the Crown.
They are home to the Office of Ethnic Affairs, Ministry of Civil Defence & Emergency Management, and the Local Government Commission.
Electricity and Gas Complaints Commission
They offer a free independent dispute resolution service for complaints about your member electricity and gas lines and retail company in New Zealand.
Energy Safety
We are the regulator for ensuring the safe supply and use of electricity and gas in New Zealand. Our vision is to be the power behind energy safety.
Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA)
The Authority's main role is to make decisions on applications to import, develop, or field test new organisms; or to import or manufacture hazardous substances in New Zealand.
NZ Government Portal
New Zealand government portal site connecting you to all New Zealand central & local government services online.
Insolvency
The Insolvency and Trustee Service is a business unit of the Ministry of Economic Development. The website provides free searches of the insolvency database to confirm bankruptcies and liquidations. The site also contains an information library with pamphlets about bankruptcy and liquidation, statistics, information on the National Enforcement and Proceeds of Crime Unit and the Insolvency Quarterly publication.
New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA)
The NZ Transport Agency was established on 1 August 2008, combining the expertise and functions of Land Transport New Zealand and Transit New Zealand.
NZTA's Transaction Centre allows you to complete some motor vehicle and driver licensing transactions online.
Ministry of Economic Development
A diverse organisation with a unifying theme - promoting an environment for sustained business performance. The Ministry comprises seven Ministerial portfolios - Commerce, Energy, Communications, Business Development, Consumer Affairs and the Government Superannuation Fund.
New Zealand Parliament
Comprehensive website for the New Zealand House of Representatives. Includes information on House and Committees, MPs and Ministers, visiting Parliament and current news.
Real Estate Agents Authority
Provides independent oversight of the industry and increased consumer protection. Assists people who are buying or selling property.
Securities Commission
Provides information and warnings on investments and securities. The Securities Commission has also set up Look Learn Invest website to help you be a smart investor
Consumer related sites (non-government)
Banking Ombudsman
The Banking Ombudsman can hear complaints about all types of banking issues including business transacted through branches or electronically, use of bank credit, debit and cash cards, and the sale of insurance superannuation or similar products.
Budgetary Advisory Services
The New Zealand Federation of Family Budgeting Services provides budget assistance to the general public through local affiliated budget services.
Citizens Advice Bureaux
Provides assistance and information on a variety of topics (including consumer problems) to the general public through local bureau.
Consumer NZ
Publisher of Consumer NZ magazine. Lobbies on behalf of consumers. See also Consumers NZ product recall site.
Consumer Online
ConsumerBuild is a user-friendly website for anyone building, altering or maintaining a house.
Electricity and Gas Complaints Commission
Offers a service for resolving disputes between consumers and their electricity companies and gas companies. The service is free to consumers.
Insurance and Savings Ombudsman
Considers complaints against insurance companies and savings organisations who are participants of the Insurance and Savings Ombudsman scheme.
The Legal Services Agency is responsible for helping people access justice, by funding legal aid, initial criminal legal services and community law centres, and producing law-related education and information.
Netsafe
Netsafe is an organisation which promotes internet safety for New Zealanders. Netsafe provides useful information about safety online and computer security.
New Zealand Marketing Association
The Association’s purpose is to encourage and develop the highest standards of measurable marketing in New Zealand.
Privacy Commissioner
Has a number of functions, including investigating complaints and promoting, by education and publicity, an understanding and acceptance of the information privacy principles.
Retirement Commission
Provides independent, impartial, factual information on retirement income related issues and trends. The site provides information and calculators to help people get 'sorted' on money matters at every stage of life."
Telecommunications Disputes Resolution Service
A free and independent service to help work out disputes between consumers and telecommunication companies.
International consumer related sites
General
Consumers International
A worldwide non-profit federation of consumer organisations, dedicated to the protection and promotion of consumer interests.
Consumer World
American public service website with extensive links to consumer organisations and agencies from all around the world.
econsumer.gov
A portal site operated by members of the International Marketing Supervision Network (government consumer agencies) that provides information on consumer protection in member states and accepts complaints regarding ecommerce cross border transactions.
International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network
A worldwide voluntary network of national consumer regulatory organisations.
OECD
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is a Paris-based intergovernmental organisation whose purpose is to provide its 29 Member countries with a forum in which governments can compare their experiences, discuss the problems they share and seek solutions which can then be applied within their own national contexts.
Australia
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
The ACCC promotes competition and fair trade in the market place to benefit consumers, businesses and the community. It also regulates national infrastructure services. Its primary responsibility is to ensure that individuals and businesses comply with the Commonwealth competition, fair trading and consumer protection laws.
SCAMwatch is a website owned and maintained by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and is also the campaign portal for the Australasian Consumer Fraud Taskforce.
Australian Consumers' Association
Publishers of Choice magazine.
Consumer.gov.au
Gateway site for the Australian Ministerial Council of Consumer Affairs.
The Commonwealth Treasury of Australia
This site contains information on the work of the Competition and Consumer Policy Division which promotes the key elements of consumer sovereignty - protection, choice, information and redress.
Product Safety Australia
The site provides the public with information about voluntary safety related product recalls notified to the Minister for Customs and Consumer Affairs. The information contained in this site is sufficient to enable any person to identify the product, the problem, and what to do.
The ACCC has developed and administers this website on behalf of all Australian consumer product safety regulators.
States and Territories consumer and fair trading agencies
Canada
Canadian Consumer Information Gateway
This is Canada's first on-line gateway to consumer information from more than 25 federal government departments and agencies. It gives you access to relevant, reliable, comprehensive and up to date consumer information.
Consumer Connection
The Consumer Affairs site for the Government of Canada.
United Kingdom
Consumers' Association
A subscriber led organisation which researches consumer issues, publishes information (Which? magazines and books) and lobbies on behalf of consumers.
Office of Fair Trading
Plays a key role in protecting the economic welfare of consumers, and in enforcing United Kingdom competition policy.
Trading Standards
This site is supported and maintained by the ITSA (Institute of Trading Standards Administration). The Institute is the professional body of Trading Standards Officers in the UK. Trading Standards Officers enforce and advise on a wide range of legislation relating to consumer protection, fair trading and the regulation of consumer markets. Trading Standards plays a key strategic role in the provision of UK Local Government services.
Trading Standards Product Recall site
Lists current recalls and safety warnings of consumer products.
United States of America
Consumer fraud
National Consumers' League national fraud centre.
Consumer Gateway
This site is a "one-stop" link to a broad range of federal information resources available online.
Consumer Reports
This is the web site of Consumers Union, non-profit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine. The site provides recall information, subscriber service to Consumer Reports magazine and informative and educational materials developed by Consumers Union's advocacy offices.
Federal Food and Drug Administration
A public health agency, charged with protecting American consumers by enforcing the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and several related public health laws.
Federal Trade Commission
Federal agency which enforces federal fair trading and competition laws in the United States of America.
US Consumer Product Safety Commission
An independent federal regulatory agency, helps keep American families safe by reducing the risk of injury or death from consumer products.
US Postal Inspection Service
The enforcement arm of the US Postal Service. Site contains specific information on consumer fraud conducted by mail.
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