KEY POINTS:
A marketing expert has called for New Zealand to follow Australia's lead and establish a "No-Call" list in order to thwart the intrusions of telephone marketers.
Massey University marketing professor Janet Hoek said Australia last week launched a database of home phone numbers which telemarketing companies weren't allowed to ring.
More than half a million people signed up in the first three days.
The database was due to take effect by the end of May, making it illegal for telemarketers to dial any of the numbers on the list.
"It would be surprising if the feelings of annoyance felt by New Zealanders about telemarketers are different from those evident in Australia, and consumers should have the right to say they do not want such calls," Prof Hoek said.
The Australian law excluded charities, political parties and educational institutions from having to comply with the list, although there had been calls from consumer groups to make all but legitimate researchers compliant.
The New Zealand Marketing Association had a Name Removal Register, Prof Hoek said, but it wasn't widely publicised and companies who weren't members of the association weren't bound by it.
"Government regulation is more visible and ... unlike self-regulation it provides explicit compliance incentives in the form of penalties and, most importantly, it is completely independent, which promotes consumer confidence in the outcomes."
- NZPA
