Tourism, Events and Consumer Affairs branch

I’m Liz MacPherson, Deputy Secretary of the Tourism, Events and Consumer Affairs branch at the Ministry of Economic Development.

We encompass:

• The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, which is responsible for consumer policy, providing information to consumers, consumer agencies and businesses on consumer issues, managing New Zealand’s trade measurement and product safety environment, and administering the dispute resolution schemes for the financial services, electricity and gas sectors. It seeks to ensure New Zealand’s consumers can transact with confidence.
• We also undertake research and provides policy advice on matters relating to major events and tourism.
• We seek to create the right environment for enhanced productivity and growth in the tourism sector.
• We provide leadership, in collaboration with other portfolios and private sector partners, to leverage broader benefits of tourism to the New Zealand economy.
   

Our teams

Ministry of Consumer Affairs

Consumer Capability and Information

We deliver consumer information, education and awareness programmes, and web-based and print information about consumer and business rights, responsibilities and avenues for redress and remedies. We also develop and support community organisations through informal partnerships as the frontline for handling consumer complaints and providing input back to the Ministry on consumer issues.

Consumer Policy

We provide advice on consumer and consumer credit law (in particular the Fair Trading Act, the Consumer Guarantees Act and the Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act) and consumer dispute resolution. Our work links primarily to supporting trusted and dynamic markets in which consumers and businesses are able to transact with confidence. We are also responsible for monitoring approved financial services, electricity and gas sector dispute resolution schemes and the financial services sector reserve scheme.

Measurement and Product Safety Service

We undertake enforcement and conformance operational activity designed to ensure that goods that are traded by weight and measure are traded accurately and that products sold are safe. We undertakes three major functions: trade measurement, product safety and fuel quality monitoring. Reflecting the increasing globalisation of trade in consumer products, a key part of our role involves close liaison with stakeholders and representing the country’s interests in key international fora.

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Tourism Policy

We provide tourism policy advice to the Minister of Tourism on how to maximise the contribution of tourism to a growing high productivity economy. We also provide advice to government on New Zealand Tourism Board appointments, roles and functions, and with the research and evaluation team below advises on the overall contribution of the Crown Entity to the government’s policy objectives.

Tourism Research and Evaluation

We provide tourism research and statistics to the government and industry. We are also responsible for evaluating the effectiveness of government programmes in the tourism sector.

New Zealand Cycle Trails

We manage the development of Nga Haerenga, the New Zealand Cycle Trail.

New Zealand Major Events

We work in partnership with the event sector to attract, retain, grow and deliver major events which provide tangible economic, social and cultural benefits to New Zealand.

Key links

On this website

• Tourism strategy: policy
• Tourism strategy: research

On other websites

Scamwatch 

New Zealand Major Events 

New Zealand Tourism Strategy 2015 

New Zealand Travel

Nga Haerenga, The New Zealand Cycle Trail

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