The Commerce Commission will be in Palmerston North on Monday May 18 to Wednesday May 20 to visit shops and businesses to discuss the Fair Trading Act.

A staff member from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs' Trading Standards Service will also be taking part in the visit. The Trading Standards Service deals with weights and measures and product safety issues.

In addition the Commission and Ministry are holding a seminar which all Palmerston North businesspeople are invited to attend. The seminar will be on Wednesday May 20 at 6pm and will cover the Fair Trading and Consumer Guarantees Acts

Commission Fair Trading Manager Rachel Leamy said she hopes there will be an excellent response to the seminar.

"We will be talking about two of the most important laws that affect businesses every day. After the seminar, there will be plenty of time for questions and informal discussion over finger food," Ms Leamy said.

"This is a great opportunity for business people to increase their knowledge of the law. The Commission does not have an office in Palmerston North, and it is more difficult for businesspeople to make contact with us, so we are coming to them. Meanwhile the Ministry would like people to take the opportunity to meet its Palmerston North Trading Standards staff.

"It is an education exercise. We want people to understand how to operate within the law to protect themselves and their customers."

Ministry of Consumer Affairs General Manager Keith Manch said: "We trust that traders will take advantage of the visit and the seminar to clarify any areas of uncertainty in respect of the Consumer Guarantees Act.

"We know that a number of misconceptions have arisen about the Act since it was introduced in 1994. The seminar will provide the opportunity for traders to check their own knowledge of the Act and have any questions answered."

On this visit Commission staff will be focusing on real estate agents, motor vehicle and appliance dealers, cellphone, computer and furniture retailers, pharmacies. Sellers of goods covered by the three product safety standards (toys, bicycles and children's nightclothes).

These are areas that the Commission has identified as raising specific compliance issues

Seminar details

Venue: Quality Inn

Date: May 20

Time: 6pm - 8pm (doors open 5.30pm)

Cost: $20 (inc. GST) per head includes finger food (no charge for reporters)

Cheques to Commerce Commission, PO Box 2351, Wellington, Attention Olive Barry; phone (04) 498 0910, fax (04) 471 0771 (door sales will be available on the night)

Speakers: Commerce Commission Fair Trading Manager Rachel Leamy

Ministry of Consumer Affairs General Manager Keith Manch

Commerce Commission staff in Palmerston North May 18-20

Chief Investigator Ross McPherson, Investigator Fa'amoana Pa'o, Inquiries Officer Anne Reid, Projects Officer Estelle Le Lievre. Fair Trading Act Manager Rachel Leamy will be in Palmerston North for the seminar.

Ministry of Consumer Affairs staff in Nelson March 23-25

Trade Measurement Officer Owen Roberts. Ministry General Manager Keith Manch will be in Palmerston North for the seminar.

Media contacts

Commerce Commission

Chief Investigator

Ross McPherson

Wellington work (04) 498 0909

Fair Trading Manager

Rachel Leamy

Wellington work (04) 498 0908

Communications Officer

Vince Cholewa

work (04) 498 0920

Ministry of Consumer Affairs

General Manager

Keith Manch

Palmerston North 025 456 420

Wellington work (04) 474 2905

Communications Advisor Judy Cochrane

work (04) 470 2302

Background

Commerce Commission

The Commerce Commission exists to bring about awareness and acceptance of, and compliance with, the Commerce and Fair Trading Acts.