Page 6 - English-DBINZ brochure-2019

3 Doing business in New Zealand

Legal system

New Zealand’s legal system developed from the British model. While English and New Zealand case
law (common law) remains important in many areas, much of New Zealand’s law is codified in Acts of
Parliament.
The system of courts is hierarchical, and extends from the District Courts and the High Courts to the
Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Prior to the establishment of the Supreme Court in January
2004, New Zealand’s highest appellate court was the Privy Council in London, England. There are also
specialist bodies empowered by statute, such as the Employment Relations Authority, the Human Rights
Review Tribunal, the Environment Court and the Commerce Commission. Decisions of these bodies are
subject to the supervisory jurisdiction of the High Court.
The public receives protection under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act, which restrains government
action. The Human Rights Act prevents discrimination by private companies and individuals in some
circumstances. The public may obtain certain information held by government bodies on request under
the Official Information Act.

Economy

The economy is based on a private enterprise system. The government generally confines its commercial
activities to those that are seen to have a “public good” element. In the early 1990s the government
privatised its interests in a variety of industries - more recent asset sales include the sale of interests
in energy and airport assets. The current government has signalled an intention to sell down stakes in
further entities.
Extensive deregulation over the last three decades has promoted competition and reduced many
regulatory burdens. New Zealand’s approach to regulation is generally “light-handed”, though there is a
comprehensive regulatory environment to protect consumer and investor interests. Legislation such as
the Commerce Act 1986, the Fair Trading Act 1986 and the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 ensures that
companies do not engage in anti-competitive behaviour and that consumers are supplied with goods of
reasonable quality.
New Zealand’s economic development has traditionally been based on its agricultural products.
Agricultural commodities still account for around half of New Zealand’s total exports. Other major
exports include tourism, forestry products, manufactured goods, fish and horticultural products, and
engineering products.

NEW ZEALAND PARLIAMENT - HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

General geographic electorates
(64 representatives)
Māori geographic electorates
(7 representatives)

Political party list members
(49 representatives)

“New Zealand has an independent and
democratically elected Parliament consisting of
one house, the House of Representatives.”