Which group of consumers might particularly benefit from protections under the Consumer Guarantees Act?

Consumers purchasing for personal use are the primary beneficiaries of protections under the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) in New Zealand. The CGA is designed to ensure that goods and services provided to consumers meet specific guarantees regarding quality, fitness for purpose, and consumer rights. These protections are aimed at individual consumers who are using products or services for personal, domestic, or household purposes, rather than for commercial or investment purposes.

The Act provides consumers with rights such as the ability to seek remedies for faulty goods or services, which might include repair, replacement, or refund. It emphasizes the notion of fairness in transactions made by consumers for their personal needs, ensuring that they have access to quality goods and services with suitable guarantees.

On the other hand, businesses purchasing for resale, investors looking for real estate, and multi-national corporations do not fall under the scope of the CGA to the same extent. Businesses are generally expected to negotiate their own terms and protections, while investors and large corporations often have access to different legal frameworks or protections that cater to their specific needs in commercial transactions. Thus, the rationale behind the CGA is to protect the often vulnerable individual consumer in the marketplace.