Organisational structure

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs is part of the Ministry of Economic Development. It is made up of three parts.

Consumer Policy Group

Consumer Capability and Information Team

Measurement and Product Safety Service

General Manager: Elizabeth MacPherson 

Consumer Policy Group

Manager: Evelyn Cole

We advise the Government on matters that affect consumers when they buy goods and services. We: 

• monitor how laws and practices affect consumers 
• promote good business practice 
• provide input from a consumer's perspective into relevant programmes of other government departments 
• recommend legislative changes to the Government, when necessary, to achieve a fair and informed marketplace.

We monitor industry self-regulation including codes e.g. the Insurance and Savings, Banking, and Direct Selling codes of practice; and electricity supply contracts for retail customers.

We monitor and review markets and legislation such as the Fair Trading, Consumer Guarantees, and Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Acts.

We provide advice to the Government on energy safety related issues.

Further information is in the Legislation and Policy section of this website.

Consumer Capability and Information Team

Manager: Liz Stretton

We provide:

• information for consumers and business on consumer rights and obligations 
• consumer training and hotlines for community agencies that provide consumer information to the public 
• guidelines and assistance to source high quality consumer representatives.

We work with organisations and communities to help them build their capability to provide consumer information and advice to their communities and constituents. We focus on communities whose members are likely to be disproportionately affected by a "bad deal".

For more information on your rights visit the For Consumer Info section.

For more information on the legal obligations of businesses visit the For Business section.

Measurement and Product Safety Service (MAPSS)

Manager: Stephen O'Brien

MAPSS undertakes trade measurement and product safety functions.

Contact MAPSS:
Tel: 0508 MAPSS Info (0508 627 774)
International Clients: 00 64 3 962 2580

Product Safety

We seek to ensure safe goods are supplied in the market and consumers use them safely. The Ministry can:

• investigate unsafe products 
• suggest modifications to make a product safe 
• request that unsafe products be removed from sale 
• give advice to companies recalling unsafe products 
• help develop self-regulation options.

Where circumstances require this, the Minister of Consumer Affairs can:

• recall unsafe products 
• ban an unsafe product 
• make mandatory standards.

For more information, visit the Product Safety section.

Trade Measurement

MAPSS works to make sure traders are aware of, and obey the laws regarding weight and measure. We administer and enforce the Weights and Measures Act. We:

• carry out spot checks of weighing and measuring equipment 
• check the weight of packaged goods 
• investigate complaints from the public.

For more information, visit the Measurement section.