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Home / Useful organisations

Useful organisations

Here we have given brief details of organisations offering support and advice or dispute resolution outside of utilities.

If you know of other organisations that may be helpful for consumers, please email communications@udl.co.nz with the details. 

Advice & support

  • CAB | Citizens Advice Bureau | Ngá Pou Whakawhirinaki o Aotearoa

    The CAB helps people to know and understand their rights and has offices throughout Aotearoa | New Zealand.

    Community law centres

    Community law centres are based throughout Aotearoa and offer advice and free legal help about a range of matters from  employment law to family and immigration law and much more.  

    Consumer NZ

    Consumer NZ started in 1959 and is an independent not for profit organisation dedicated to getting New Zealanders a fairer deal. 

    EECA | Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority | Te Tari Tiaki Pūngao

    EECA encourages the use of sustainable energy in New Zealand focusing on energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources.. 

    FinCap

    FinCap is non-government organisation which supports 200 free financial mentoring services in their work. FinCap advocates for change in the building financial capability sector to help prevent people from getting into financial hardship in Aotearoa. Financial mentoring services can help anybody who wants to gain control of their money.

    MoneyTalks 

    MoneyTalks connects people and whānau with their local foodbanks, help them find their way through Work and Income processes and entitlements and support people to manage their money. Anybody can get in touch with the MoneyTalks team if they need help with day-to-day money matters like budgeting and debt management – it’s free!

    Powerswitch

    Helps you find find the cheapest electricity and gas plans – brought to you by Consumer NZ.

    Sorted

    Sorted is a free service by Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission, the government-funded, independent agency dedicated to helping New Zealanders get ahead financially.

    As New Zealand’s trusted personal finance site, Sorted has the tools and information you need to tackle debt, plan and budget, save and invest, dial up your KiwiSaver, plan for retirement, protect what's important, and manage a mortgage. No matter where you are at when it comes to money – just starting your first job or wrapping up a successful career – Sorted lets you fine-tune your finances and get ahead moneywise.

    Work and Income  | Te Hiranga Tangata

     A government agency that financially helps those on a low income or not working and supports you into work, and help with your with housing.

Associations & authorities

  • ASA | Advertising Standards Authority 

    The Advertising Standards Authority is an industry organisation that sets the standards for responsible advertising in New Zealand. The ASA is supported by advertisers, advertising agencies and media organisations to maintain standards in advertising. The Advertising Codes set out the rules that advertisements are to comply with to ensure they are responsible. The ASA also runs the advertising complaints processes. The ASA has 14 member organisations representing advertisers, agencies and the media.

    ERANZ | The Electricity  Retailers' Association of New Zealand

    The Electricity Retailers' Association of New Zealand (ERANZ) represents companies that sell electricity to Kiwi households and businesses. ERANZ’s members supply over 90% of New Zealand’s electricity to Kiwis.  ERANZ works for a competitive, fair, and sustainable electricity market that benefits New Zealand consumers.

     

    GAS NZ

    GasNZ provides a single and consistent voice for all gas fuels. GasNZ members have interests in natural gas, LPG, biogas and hydrogen gas, and represents all parts of the gas chain.  GasNZ advocates for safe, efficient use of gas and LPG now, and in the years to come, as new gases become available for homes, businesses and industry.

     

Commissions & Commissioners

  • Commerce Commission | Te Komihana Tauhokohoko

    ComCom enforces competition, fair trading and consumer credit contracts laws. We also have regulatory responsibilities in the electricity lines, gas pipelines, telecommunications, dairy and airport sectors.

    Privacy Commissioner | Te Mana Mātāpono Matatapu

    The Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) is an Independent Crown Entity. It is funded by the state but is independent of Government or Ministerial control. OPC has a wide range of functions, which are listed in section 17 of the Privacy Act 2020.

    Work includes: 

    • investigating complaints about breaches of privacy.
    • building and promoting an understanding of the privacy principles.
    • monitoring and examining the impact that technology has on privacy.
    • developing codes of practice for specific industries or sectors.
    • inquiring into any matter where it appears that individual privacy may be affected. 

Energy regulatory

  • EA | Electricity Authority | Te Mana Hiko

    An independent Crown entity responsible for the efficient operation of the NZ electricity market. EA promotes competition in, reliable supply by, and the efficient operation of, the New Zealand electricity industry for the long-term benefit of consumers.

     

    GIC | Gas Industry Company Limited

    Regulates the operation of the gas industry, providing trusted advice, support, and guidance to the gas and wider energy sector, Gas Industry Company’s work in gas governance and statutory accountability enables industry self-regulation that is efficient, low cost and effective.

    GIC uses specialist expertise and relationships, to help stakeholders navigate change, informed by our daily monitoring of industry information flows. GIC facilitates the gas market so that consumers can enjoy safe, efficient, reliable, fair, and environmentally sustainable gas delivery.

Government ministries

Māori cultural competency

  • The Tūhono Collective represents a community of organisations and individuals dedicated to growing Māori cultural capability, capacity and competency.

    UDL is committed to delivering a dispute resolution process that meets the needs of all those who seek our help to resolve a complaint. We have partnered with the Tūhono Collective to provide a tikanga-based Māori dispute resolution framework for resolving disputes using Māori beliefs, principles, values and practices that derive from traditional knowledge (mātauranga Māori).

    Please contact us to further discuss this and how we can assist you.

Ombudsman associations

Tribunals

  • Disputes Tribunal of New Zealand

    The Disputes Tribunal is a quick and inexpensive way to settle disputes.

    The Disputes Tribunal is less formal than a court. A lawyer can’t represent you in the hearing and there are no judges. Each hearing is run by a referee who will consider whether it is appropriate to help parties reach a settlement on a case by case basis. Where this is not considered appropriate, the referee will make a decision on the dispute.