New Zealand Consumer Law: Your Rights When You Buy

New Zealand consumer law gives you rights that a shop's own returns policy cannot take away. Two laws do most of the work: the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, which covers goods and services that turn out to be faulty or not fit for purpose, and the Fair Trading Act 1986, which bans misleading and deceptive selling. When something goes wrong and the trader will not put it right, the Disputes Tribunal is the cheap, no-lawyers forum that decides. This section links to a guide on each.

This is general information about New Zealand consumer law, not legal advice. For your own situation, contact Consumer Protection or the Disputes Tribunal.

When something you bought is faulty

The Consumer Guarantees Act sets guarantees that goods and services must meet, such as being of acceptable quality and fit for their purpose. When a product fails, the remedy depends on how serious the fault is: a minor fault that can be fixed lets the supplier choose to repair, replace, or refund, while a serious fault lets you choose to reject the item for a refund.

When you were misled

The Fair Trading Act is the other half of the picture. It targets the selling conduct rather than the product: misleading claims, false representations, and unfair contract terms. Because the two laws answer different questions, a common point of confusion is which one applies to your situation, and sometimes both do.

Getting it resolved

If a trader will not put things right, the Disputes Tribunal hears the claim without lawyers, and since 24 January 2026 it can decide claims worth up to $60,000. Separately, if you are being chased for money, there are limits on what a debt collector can do, and some old debts are no longer enforceable. For how consumer law fits with the rest of New Zealand's everyday law, see the New Zealand law guide.