The Commission has filed proceedings in the High Court against One New Zealand Group Limited (formerly Vodafone New Zealand Limited) (One NZ), in relation to One NZ's alleged non-compliance with the 111 Contact Code (the Code), without reasonable excuse. The proceedings seek a pecuniary penalty in relation to six alleged instances of non-compliance with the Code. The Code seeks to protect vulnerable consumers who for health, safety, or disability reasons rely on a retail landline service for emergency calling, which will not work in the event of a power outage. The Commission alleges that One NZ failed to provide consumers with information about the Code, failed to ensure that the means it provided vulnerable consumers to contact 111 in a power failure remained suitable and operational, and failed to maintain records related to the Code.
