Commerce (Promoting Competition and Other Matters) Amendment Bill
This bill changes the rules around business competition in New Zealand. It makes it easier for businesses to work together in some situations without breaking the law. It also gives the Commerce Commission (the government watchdog for fair markets) stronger tools to review and potentially block company mergers and takeovers. It adds new rules about 'predatory pricing' — where a big company sells things very cheaply just to push out rivals. It also protects people who report wrongdoing to the Commission, and makes the Commission's processes clearer and faster.
What this affects
Tap a topic to see how this bill touches it, and the parts of the text that show it.
The bill gives a government watchdog stronger tools to stop big companies from buying up rivals or pricing out competitors, which could affect prices people pay for everyday goods and services.
The Commission may impose a suspension on an acquisition, or a proposed acquisition, of assets of a business or shares by giving notice in writing... which must be no longer than 40 working days after the date of the notice.
For the purposes of sections 47, 47A, 66, and 67, substantially lessening competition in a market may include creating, strengthening, or entrenching a substantial degree of power in the market.
predatory pricing is either or both of the following for a sustained period in the relevant market: (a) pricing below Average Variable Cost or Average Avoidable Cost: (b) pricing above Average Variable Cost or Average Avoidable Cost but below Long-run Average Incremental Cost or Average Total Cost if the pricing is for an exclusionary purpose.
Progress through Parliament
Have your say
This bill is open for public submissions to the Economic Development, Science and Innovation Committee. Anyone can tell the committee what they think, and you don’t need to be an expert. Submissions close 3 February 2026.
Bill text sourced from legislation.govt.nz (Parliamentary Counsel Office). Arapono’s summary and breakdown are drafted with AI grounded in that official text and reviewed by an Arapono editor for accuracy and neutrality before publishing. Arapono is non-partisan and takes no position on this bill.