No, ticket scalping in New Zealand is prohibited under the Fair Trading Act 1986 and Consumer Guarantees Act 1993, with enforcement by the Commerce Commission. The Secondary Ticketing Services Act 2022 criminalizes reselling tickets above face value without authorization, targeting platforms like Viagogo. Amendments effective 2026 expand penalties to include fines up to $600,000 for businesses and $200,000 for individuals.
Key Regulations for Scalping Tickets in New Zealand
- Authorization Requirement: Resale is lawful only if the event organizer permits secondary sales through approved channels, such as Ticketmaster’s verified resale platform. Unauthorized platforms face immediate legal action under the Secondary Ticketing Services Act.
- Price Caps: Scalpers cannot charge more than 10% above the original ticket price unless explicitly allowed by the event promoter. Violations trigger investigations by the Commerce Commission, which has issued cease-and-desist orders to platforms like StubHub NZ.
- Consumer Protections: Buyers of scalped tickets are entitled to refunds if the ticket is invalid or misrepresented, per the Consumer Guarantees Act. Event organizers must verify ticket authenticity, and scalpers face liability for fraudulent listings.