In 1998, the Minister of Commerce ("the Minister"), under section 54 (1) of the Commerce Act 1986, required the Commerce Commission ("the Commission") to report to him on whether price control should be introduced over prices for airfield activities, as defined by the Airport Authorities Amendment Act 1997, at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch airports.
A notice to this effect was published in the New Zealand Gazette on 13 August 1998, page 2773.
The Commerce Amendment Act 2001 (which came into force on 26 May 2001) amended Parts IV and V of the Commerce Act 1986.
Those Parts are relevant to the request made by the Minister.
On 25 July 2001, the Minister withdrew the request made in 1998 and issued a new request under the new sections 54 and 56 of the Commerce Act 1986 (as amended by the Commerce Amendment Act 2001).
The new request is substantially the same as the 1998 request, but incorporates the wording of the amended provisions of the Commerce Act 1986.
A copy of the request dated 25 July 2001 is available on the Commission's web site at:
http://wwww.comcom.govt.nz/price
The Commission released a draft report on price control of airfield activities on 3 July 2001.
In the draft report, the Commission applied the
post-amendment provisions of the Commerce Act 1986.
The Commission hereby gives notice that the draft report released on 3 July 2001 is now re-released as a draft report under the Minister's request dated 25 July 2001.
A copy of the draft report can be obtained from the Commission's web site.
The Commission invites interested persons to give their views on the matters covered by the new request.
Interested persons are invited to make submissions to the Commission on its draft report by 14 August 2001, followed by any cross-submissions by 31 August 2001.
Parties making submissions will be given the opportunity to speak at a conference on 4 to 7, 10 and 12 to 14 September 2001.
Under the 25 July 2001 request, the Commission must report to the Minister by no later than 1 August 2002.
The Commission intends to provide its final report to the Minister in November 2001.
Correspondence may be sent to:
Price Control Study of Airfield Activities
Commerce Commission
P.O. Box 2351
Wellington
or by fax on (04) 471 0771 or email to:
airports@comcom.govt.nz
PAUL SWAIN, Minister of Commerce.