Shearer's eye on retail duo

MP David Shearer says he will return to waging war against the supermarket duopoly and credit card interest rates after being restored as Labour's consumer affairs spokesman.

Mr Shearer was given the role back in a minor rejig by Labour leader Andrew Little after MP Clayton Cosgrove's decision not to stand again in 2017. The changes promote Kris Faafoi into the shadow Cabinet and he picks up Mr Cosgrove's tourism portfolio while keeping his state services portfolio.

Mr Shearer, foreign affairs spokesman, gets consumer affairs, which he had held until November.

He said there was a marked lack of competition in New Zealand in many areas and many goods were far more expensive than in Australia.

"I'll be looking at areas I believe there is insufficient competition and therefore consumers are being squeezed without sufficient protection."

He said credit card interest was another issue. "I don't understand the rationale why, if there is good competition in banking, the credit card interest rates haven't come down."

Mr Faafoi said there were issues that needed addressing relating to tourism operators' safety "that I think the Government has let slip".

The Government had not gone far enough in implementing recommendations to regulate the adventure tourism industry since a review in 2009 and tourist deaths and accidents affected the nation's reputation abroad.

Mr Cosgrove has retained commerce and will take up a new role as Mr Little's helper in reaching out to business.