Labour Proposes Fair Go Law to Ban Hidden Fees

The New Zealand Labour Party announced the Fair Go Law, a consumer protection policy designed to eliminate hidden fees, subscription traps, and junk insurance. The proposal would require businesses to include all unavoidable booking and processing fees in advertised prices and prohibit mandatory charges added during checkout. The law also aims to simplify the cancellation of gym memberships and telecommunications contracts, ensuring that leaving a service is as easy as joining.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins stated the policy is intended to protect citizens from cost-of-living pressures and ensure New Zealanders get a fair deal at the checkout. Commerce and consumer affairs spokeswoman Arena Williams added that the rules would target inflated penalty charges for lost items and misleading extended warranties that often duplicate existing rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act.

The New Zealand National Party responded by accusing Labour of maintaining its own hidden fee. National Party campaign chairman Simeon Brown claimed that an $18.8 billion unfunded spending hole in Labour's platform would result in an additional $2,263 in taxes per average household. Labour has disputed these figures as the parties campaign for the upcoming November election.