The Commerce Act 1986 is a statute of New Zealand.

It prohibits conduct that restricts competition and purchase of shares or assets where that would lessen competition in a market.

[1] As well as generally governing markets, the Act gives the Commerce Commission particular powers in relation to services provided by electricity lines businesses, gas pipeline businesses and airports.

The Commerce Act 1986 represented the first complete competition law legislation in New Zealand.

Previously, the government had attempted to manage markets and competition through ad hoc measures such as price controls and anti-profiteering rules.