The Commerce Commission searched 11 premises in Rotorua and Auckland yesterday after receiving information that imported souvenirs were being sold as New Zealand-made.
Commission staff yesterday executed 10 search warrants in Rotorua and one in Auckland after being told imported souvenirs, represented as made in New Zealand, were being sold to Chinese tourists.
"We have gathered a large amount of information as a result of the search warrants and will now assess this information before considering what action is appropriate under the Fair Trading Act,'' the commission's competition branch manager Greg Allan said.
Yesterday's search warrants were part of multi-agency investigation involving staff from police, Customs, Immigration and the Wildlife Enforcement Group.
- NZPA