Consumer law overhaul planned

Plans are afoot to simplify consumer legislation by consolidating 10 current laws into a smaller number of enhanced laws.

In an address to the Employers and Manufacturer's Association, Consumer Affairs Minister Heather Roy outlined the objectives of what is called the "One Law – One Door" project as:

• defining the principles underpinning New Zealand's consumer laws; and

• simplifying and consolidating existing consumer law.

In her address, Ms Roy said that:

• "One Door refers to a simplified complaints apparatus rather than a system that leaves the consumer to negotiate a host of complaints and disputes tribunals, ombudsmen and so on that currently serve to confuse the applicant while sometimes adding cost to the tax payer. To make the simplified One Law a reality, initial thinking is to consolidate much of the current legislation into one strong, clear piece of law, in essence creating an enhanced Fair Trading Act".

• The enhanced Fair Trading Act would be complemented by the Consumer Guarantees Act. Sitting alongside these two laws could be an enhanced Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act, incorporating the Credit (Repossession) Act and the Motor Vehicle Sales Act. The Weights and Measures Act could also sit alongside or potentially be a separate part of an enhanced Fair Trading Act".

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