Scott Simpson. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Scams topped the agenda of a meeting between Consumer NZ and the new minister for commerce and consumer affairs earlier this week.
The watchdog group sat down with National's Scott Simpson to discuss issues increasingly affecting New Zealanders - stronger rights for consumers around cancelled flights and credit card charges, excessive surcharges and rising insurance premiums.
Consumer NZ chief executive Jon Duffy said it was "really reassuring to see that the minister also sees [scams] as a key area for focus".
With New Zealanders losing an estimated $200 million annually to scams, Duffy said, there needed to be laws to hold banks, telcos and tech platforms accountable for facilitating or failing to block fraud through their systems.
"The downturn in our economy continues," he said, and the cost of living remained a key concern from consumers.
It meant problems were amplified, as there was "less money to go around".
Consumer NZ had also urged the minister to commission a study into airline competition, to ensure that was working effectively despite New Zealand's domestic aviation sector being the most concentrated in the world, with Air New Zealand holding an 86 percent market share.
Simpson said increasing competition across the board was his top priority, and he was "thrilled" to have been assigned the portfolio.
"I've had a busy couple of weeks meeting with a range of stakeholders, including with Consumer NZ earlier this week," he said.
"We had a positive discussion about some of the most pressing issues facing Kiwi consumers today, and it was fantastic that we agreed my work programme was focusing on the right areas."
"The cost of living has been hitting Kiwis pretty hard, and that's why our government is absolutely focused on improving competition to grow our economy and reduce pressure at the shops and on everyday bills."
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