What assessment, if any, has the Minister made of the impact on small businesses of referral arrangements between insurers and preferred repair provider networks, including the level of transparency provided to customers regarding such arrangements?

Answer

New Zealand's regulatory framework contains a number of protections that are relevant, including the Commerce Act 1986, which promotes competition, the Fair Trading Act 1986, which prohibits misleading and deceptive conduct, and the Conduct of Financial Institutions regime, which requires licensed insurers to treat retail consumers fairly. The Commerce Commission is responsible for investigating potential breaches of competition and consumer laws.