Who was sanctioned, and for what?

In May 2022, without seeking clearance, Alderson Logistics and its associated company Supa Shavings (2022) acquired the businesses of the two largest suppliers of bulk wood shavings used as bedding by chicken and goat farmers in the Waikato, which together held a market share of at least 70 to 80% and were each other's closest competitors. Following a settlement with the Commerce Commission (New Zealand's competition regulator), the High Court imposed an allegedly agreed penalty of 420,000 NZD jointly against both for breaching the prohibition on acquisitions in s 47 of the Commerce Act. It was the first time the Commission had also sought divestment where a breach was admitted; the divestment did not succeed.

Authority / court

High Court Auckland (Klage: Commerce Commission)

Area of law

Competition law · Merger control

Legal basis

Commerce Act 1986, s 47

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Food and agriculture

Published

9 Mar 2026

Original amount 420,000 NZD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 9 Mar 2026.

Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link

In 2021 the courier company concluded an agreement with a competitor acting as reseller that allocated customers and fixed prices, and gave effect to the non-compete clause on one occasion; the wording had been copied from an older Fastway template. In civil proceedings brought by the Commerce Commission (ComCom, New Zealand's competition authority), the High Court on 4 March 2026 approved the jointly proposed penalty, allegedly of 700,000 NZD (starting point 1 million NZD, 30% reduction).

Authority / court

High Court Auckland (Klage: Commerce Commission)

Area of law

Competition law · Cartels and collusion

Legal basis

Commerce Act 1986, s 30

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Transport, logistics and shipping

Culpability

negligent

Repeat case

no

Mitigating circumstances

No previous warnings or contraventions, voluntary provision of documents and interviews, early admission and remorse, new agreements without the clause and a new competition law compliance programme in New Zealand and Australia.

Liability of senior managers

The agreement was prepared from a template by the national sales manager; a more senior employee signed it without reviewing its content.

Published

4 Mar 2026

Original amount 700,000 NZD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 4 Mar 2026.

Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link

The construction company coordinated its bids with a competitor in tenders run by the NZ Transport Agency (national transport authority; Northern Corridor Improvement Project) and Auckland Transport (refurbishment of the Middlemore Bridge). After guilty pleas to four charges of price fixing, the High Court in Auckland imposed a fine of 500,000 NZD on 18 December 2024 in the country's first criminal cartel prosecution; without the mitigating factors, around 1 million NZD would have been appropriate according to the court.

Authority / court

High Court Auckland (Anklage: Commerce Commission)

Area of law

Competition law · Cartels and collusion

Legal basis

Commerce Act 1986, s 30 (Kartellverbot, seit 8. April 2021 strafbewehrt)

Action

Fine

Status of proceedings

final

Sector

Construction and real estate

Culpability

intentional

Mitigating circumstances

Guilty pleas; the court took account of several mitigating factors, without which around 1 million NZD would have been appropriate.

Liability of senior managers

Measures against individuals are not set out here.

Published

18 Dec 2024

Original amount 500,000 NZD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 18 Dec 2024.

Checked against the official source on 3 Oct 2026 · Direct link