Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading Act 1990

(1) The Commissioner may, with the approval of the Minister and on terms and conditions approved by the Commissioner for Public Employment, arrange with a department or statutory corporation, or a council constituted under the Local Government Act 2019, for the use of the services of any staff, or the use of any facilities, of the department, corporation or council.

(2) With the approval of the Minister, and on such terms and conditions as the Minister thinks fit, the Commissioner may, for a particular purpose and otherwise than under a contract of service, appoint and employ any person, body or organisation considered to be capable of providing information, services or advice that would assist in the performance of the Commissioner's functions.

(3) The Commissioner may, at the Commissioner's sole discretion, institute and defend proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction for or on behalf of a consumer or class of consumers.

(4) Where a dispute arises concerning a consumer, the Commissioner may:

(a) if the dispute is governed by an arbitration agreement which appoints the Commissioner as arbitrator or empowers the Commissioner to appoint an arbitrator – act as arbitrator or, as the case may be, appoint an arbitrator; and

(b) in the absence of an arbitration agreement, with the consent in writing of all the parties to the dispute – act as arbitrator in the dispute or nominate a person to act as arbitrator.