A major new report into the state of competition in New Zealand has raised fresh concerns about whether Kiwi consumers are getting a fair deal — particularly in sectors dominated by a small number of powerful players.
The Commerce Commission has released new baseline research examining competition across the New Zealand economy, warning that limited competition in some industries may be contributing to higher prices, fewer choices, and weaker outcomes for consumers and small businesses.
The report comes amid ongoing scrutiny of major sectors including supermarkets, banking, fuel, building supplies, and telecommunications — industries where concerns have repeatedly been raised about market dominance and profitability.
Commerce Commission Chair Dr John Small says strong competition is critical for keeping prices down, encouraging innovation, and improving services for consumers.
The Commission’s latest work is designed to establish a benchmark for measuring how competition performs across the economy over time.
Recent Commission investigations into the grocery sector have already found competition is not working effectively for many New Zealanders, with concerns around supermarket profitability, wholesale access, and barriers preventing new competitors entering the market.
The report highlights that concentrated markets can disproportionately impact low-income households already struggling with the rising cost of living.
For Māori and regional communities, limited competition can also affect access to affordable essentials, banking services, transport, and communications infrastructure.
The Commission says improving competition can help drive productivity, lower prices, and create fairer outcomes for consumers and smaller businesses trying to compete against dominant market players.
The release is expected to intensify political debate around regulation, supermarket reform, banking competition, and corporate power as economic pressures continue to bite across Aotearoa.
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