The Government is planning to increase fines for breaching the Fair Trading Act - from 600-thousand dollars to five-million.

It is announcing a swathe of changes to crack down on businesses and individuals breaking consumer laws. 

The cases could also be moved from the criminal court to the Civil Court to make prosecution easier. 

Consumer NZ Chief Executive Jon Duffy told Mike Hosking that it is one of the most consequential changes to the act in a generation. 

He says it will be a deterrent for many companies - but $5million is a drop-in-the-bucket for large multi-nationals. 

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