Consumer NZ - Latest News [Page 1]
11 Sunscreens Sold In New Zealand Didn’t Meet SPF Claims, As Revealed By An Australian Test
Thursday, 12 June 2025, 11:13 am | Consumer NZ
Consumer NZ research and test writer Belinda Castles says consumers expect sunscreens to protect them. But Castles isn’t surprised the protection falls short of what’s claimed on the bottle. More >>
The Sale Of A Top-Rated Power Company Signals A Shrinking Market
Wednesday, 4 June 2025, 7:54 am | Consumer NZ
Flick Electric has been rated New Zealand’s top power company in Consumer NZ’s latest energy retailer survey — coinciding with its sale to gentailer, Meridian. More >>
New Zealanders Have Rising Concerns About Insurance Costs As Financial Pressures Mount
Thursday, 29 May 2025, 7:28 am | Consumer NZ
New insights reveal insurance is a growing financial burden for New Zealand households, as trust in the industry dips and climate pressures loom. Insurance has jumped to the fourth most significant financial pressure for households, behind housing, food ... More >>
Consumer NZ Finds Some Car Insurance Premiums Have Almost Doubled Since 2023
Thursday, 15 May 2025, 7:10 am | Consumer NZ
Consumer's survey found young males will pay more in car insurance premiums than older people or young females. And older females could pay more than older males – depending on the insurer. More >>
Smaller Banks Pack A Punch: Consumer's Best And Worst Banks In 2025
Wednesday, 14 May 2025, 10:25 am | Consumer NZ
The Co-operative Bank has taken out the top spot in Consumer’s latest banking satisfaction survey, earning a customer satisfaction score of 77%. At the other end of the scale, ANZ – the country’s largest bank – scored just 57%. The average satisfaction ... More >>
Consumer NZ’s Annual KiwiSaver Survey Reveals Satisfaction Rising But Questions Remain
Tuesday, 6 May 2025, 8:42 am | Consumer NZ
Results from the nationally representative annual KiwiSaver satisfaction survey highlight the strengths and weaknesses of different retirement savings scheme providers. More >>
Despite Low Confidence In Government Efforts, People Want Urgent Action To Lower Grocery Bills
Thursday, 24 April 2025, 8:06 am | Consumer NZ
Consumer’s NZ Grocery Survey, carried out in mid-April, reveals a strong public appetite for government action to improve access to affordable food. Many respondents called for clear and effective intervention by the government, while also expressing ... More >>
Watch Out For Public Holiday Surcharges On Easter Sunday
Wednesday, 16 April 2025, 12:06 pm | Consumer NZ
Jessica Walker, acting head of research and advocacy at Consumer, says the cost-of-living pinch isn’t going to stop people from heading out for an Easter treat over the break, and she wants consumers to know when they can reasonably expect to pay surcharges. More >>
Price Hikes Are Coming - It’s Time To Review Your Power Provider
Thursday, 3 April 2025, 7:15 am | Consumer NZ
Powerswitch encourages consumers to take advantage of its free comparison service to ensure they are not paying more than necessary. More >>
Consumer NZ Urges Microsoft To Extend Support For Windows 10 Software
Monday, 31 March 2025, 9:08 am | Consumer NZ
Microsoft claims that security was a guiding principle when setting the hardware requirements for Windows 11. Gelling believes the decision to leave an estimated 400million PCs unprotected flies in the face of that principle. More >>
Consumer NZ Urges New Zealand To Learn From Australia’s Supermarket Enquiry
Friday, 28 March 2025, 9:12 am | Consumer NZ
Consumer NZ calls for stronger action in New Zealand following the ACCC supermarket report, particularly on pricing and promotional practices. More >>
Consumer NZ Sets Out Vision For New Zealand Consumers For 2025
Friday, 14 March 2025, 8:47 am | Consumer NZ
The watchdog recently met with new minister for commerce and consumer affairs, Scott Simpson, to discuss the importance of addressing critical consumer issues that are increasingly impacting all New Zealanders. More >>
Consumer NZ Calls For An End To The Surcharge Swindle
Thursday, 6 March 2025, 8:54 am | Consumer NZ
Currently, there are no regulations in New Zealand on surcharges, only guidelines. The guidelines recommend surcharges be transparent, avoidable and not excessive. Unfortunately, these recommendations are often ignored, to the detriment of shoppers. More >>
Consumer NZ Backs Calls For Court Action Against Retirement Village Operators’ Unfair Contract Terms
Thursday, 27 February 2025, 8:13 am | Consumer NZ
Jon Duffy, Consumer NZ chief executive, says living in a village under an ORA isn’t the same as owning a home because residents have no ownership rights, and in most cases, aren’t entitled to any capital gains when their units are sold. More >>
Consumer NZ Survey Reveals New Zealanders Face Rising Healthcare Concerns Amid Ongoing Financial Uncertainty
Tuesday, 18 February 2025, 9:26 am | Consumer NZ
Healthcare concerns have risen across all age groups, but older New Zealanders remain most vocal, with 65% of those aged 70 years and over identifying healthcare as a top issue, up from 46% in October 2024 and 41% a year ago. More >>
Consumer NZ Valentine's Day Alert: Beware The Red Flags
Friday, 14 February 2025, 8:28 am | Consumer NZ
Ruairi O’Shea, Consumer NZ investigative writer, says romance scams are particularly insidious because they don’t follow the typical patterns associated with scams. It’s important to report online scams to CERT NZ, part of the National Cyber Security ... More >>
Consumer NZ Warns Of Car Rental Company’s Questionable Practices
Thursday, 13 February 2025, 10:42 am | Consumer NZ
Chris Schulz, senior investigative journalist at Consumer NZ, is warning those looking for an affordable car hire option in Auckland or Christchurch to avoid car rental company autoUnion. More >>
Consumer Reveals The Best And Worst Insurance Providers
Monday, 3 February 2025, 11:48 am | Consumer NZ
MAS and FMG are the top-rated insurers for house, car and contents insurance. Big brands State and AMI scored below average for house and contents insurance, with significantly lower-than-average ratings for value for money, communication, customer ... More >>
Consumer NZ Shares 5 Simple Ways To Save Money In 2025
Monday, 13 January 2025, 6:06 am | Consumer NZ
With a few simple changes, you could save thousands of dollars over the course of the year. More >>
Consumer NZ Launches Guide To Buying Second-hand Appliances
Wednesday, 8 January 2025, 8:11 am | Consumer NZ
As many New Zealanders seek to balance affordability, durability and sustainability, the guide highlights how to identify high-performing, long-lasting appliances and avoid common pitfalls, such as faulty or poorly maintained products. More >>