New Zealand’s Most Complained-About Businesses: 2025 Commerce Commission Data
Recent data released under the Official Informational Act reveals which companies New Zealanders flagged most frequently to the Commerce Commission in 2025. While these figures highlight consumer dissatisfaction, the watchdog emphasizes that an enquiry does not necessarily equate to a proven breach of law or a formal investigation.
The Top Offenders: From Music Festivals to Supermarkets
The list of most enquired-about businesses is topped by a failed event, followed closely by the nation’s dominant retail and telecommunications players. The Juicy Festival drew the highest volume of concerns in 2025 with 493 enquiries. The January 2025 festival, which had scheduled stops in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Tauranga, was cancelled after promoters failed to secure a liquor licence for the Auckland date.
Retail and Telecommunications Trends
Beyond the festival sector, the big supermarket chains and telcos dominate the list of consumer concerns. The breakdown of the most flagged businesses includes:
- Woolworths New Zealand: 322 enquiries
- Pak’nSave: 260 enquiries
- Timeless Events NZ: 235 enquiries
- One New Zealand Group: 233 enquiries
- New World: 190 enquiries
- Air New Zealand: 180 enquiries
- Trade Me: 162 enquiries
- Sky Network Television: 149 enquiries
- Spark New Zealand: 139 enquiries
Understanding the Data: Enquiries vs. Breaches
It’s important to distinguish between a consumer enquiry and a legal violation. Rebecca McAtamney, the general manager for competition, fair trading and credit at the Commerce Commission, stated that not every enquiry is valid or leads to an investigation. However, these reports provide “critical intel” that helps the Commission understand emerging market trends and consumer behavior.
Industry representatives argue that these numbers should be viewed relative to the scale of their operations. For example, a spokesperson for Foodstuffs (which operates New World and Pak’nSave) noted that the approximately 450 enquiries across its brands represent roughly 1.7 enquiries per million customer visits.
Key Takeaways for Consumers and Businesses
- Volume & Scale: High enquiry numbers often correlate with the size of the customer base rather than a higher rate of misconduct.
- Event Risks: The high volume of complaints regarding Juicy Festival underscores the financial and legal risks associated with event cancellations and licensing failures.
- Watchdog Role: The Commerce Commission uses these enquiries as a barometer for market health and to identify potential areas for regulatory focus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a high number of enquiries mean a company broke the law?
No. According to the Commerce Commission, these figures reflect potential concerns identified by the public, not proven breaches or active investigations.
Why was the Juicy Festival cancelled?
The festival was cancelled given that promoters were unable to obtain a liquor licence for the event’s Auckland date.
How are these figures released?
The data was made available to the media via the Official Informational Act.
Looking Forward
As the Commerce Commission continues to monitor market behavior, the focus remains on identifying systemic trends rather than isolated incidents. For businesses, these figures serve as a reminder that consumer sentiment and operational transparency are critical to maintaining brand reputation in a highly scrutinized retail environment.