Our Editorial Guidelines
Independent, transparent and useful information for New Zealanders
At NZ Compare and PriceMe, our goal is simple: help you make better-informed decisions.
We compare products, services, prices and providers to help you find options that suit your needs. We make money from some of the products and services we compare, so we believe it's important to be upfront about how we work and how we produce our content.
Here are the principles we follow.
1. You come first
Our content is created to help consumers, not simply to promote the companies we work with.
Whether we're reviewing a product, comparing broadband plans or explaining how to save money on your power bill, our starting point is always:
Will this be useful to our readers?
2. We're transparent about how we make money
NZ Compare and PriceMe are commercial businesses and part of Global Compare Group, a New Zealand owned and operated company.
We may receive a commission, referral fee, advertising revenue or other payment when you click through to, enquire with or purchase from some of the companies featured on our websites. Read more here.
Not every company we feature pays us and sometimes we will be asked to remove a company or a product from our comparisons. Occasionally we need to comply for legal reasons, but we always aim to list as many providers or alternatives as possible.
Where a commercial relationship could be relevant to your decision, we'll aim to make it clear.
Making money from a comparison doesn't mean we automatically recommend that product or provider. Our recommendations and editorial content are based on the factors we believe matter to consumers.
3. We'll tell you about conflicts of interest
Some of the businesses we compare and feature on our websites are part of the wider Global Compare Group.
For example, Simply Broadband is part of Global Compare Group and is featured on Broadband Compare.
We believe you should know about relationships like this rather than discover them yourself.
Where there is a relevant relationship or potential conflict of interest, we'll disclose it and aim to ensure that the same fundamental comparison and editorial principles are applied.
4. We check our facts
We make reasonable efforts to ensure the information we publish is accurate and up to date.
That includes checking things such as:
- prices and fees
- product features
- speeds and specifications
- contract terms
- discounts and offers
- availability
- customer ratings
- statistics and market information
Prices, promotions and products can change, so information can occasionally become out of date. Where appropriate, we'll show when information was last reviewed or updated.
If you spot something that isn't correct, please tell us. There are lots of companies, data points and products that we work with and so the more eyes on our sites the better. If you spot an issue and let us know we'll investigate and correct genuine errors.
If you or your organisation is mentioned in an article or piece of content and believe you have been misrepresented or important information has been omitted, you have a right of reply.
5. We use data wherever possible
When we compare products or providers, we use available data and information rather than simply picking our “favourites”.
Where we publish rankings, ratings or recommendations, we'll consider relevant factors for that particular category.
For example, our broadband comparison considers a range of aspects, including price, speed, contract terms, features and past customer experiences.
Where a ranking or recommendation involves a methodology, we'll explain how it works where practical.
6. Our reviews are independent
We don't sell positive reviews. We don’t remove bad reviews.
A company can't pay us to give it a better review or guarantee a positive editorial outcome.
We may receive products, services or information from companies so that we can review or assess them. However, the editorial conclusion remains ours.
We also won't remove a genuine negative review simply because a company doesn't like it. We know that bad experiences happen, and so we give these organisations the right of reply should they wish to do so.
7. Advertising is advertising
We want you to be able to tell when you're reading editorial content and when you're seeing advertising or sponsored content.
Paid or sponsored content will be identified appropriately with labels such as Sponsored, Advertisement or Advertising Feature.
A company paying to advertise with us does not automatically receive a positive editorial recommendation.
8. We don't hide the negatives
Good comparison information isn't just about telling you what's great.
If a product has drawbacks, a provider has limitations or an offer isn't suitable for everyone, we'll aim to tell you.
Our recommendations should help you understand both the benefits and the things you should consider before making a decision.
9. We compare fairly
When we compare companies or products, we aim to make comparisons that are genuinely comparable.
We won't deliberately manipulate a comparison to make one provider look better.
Claims such as “cheapest”, “best”, “lowest price” or “best value” will have a reasonable basis and be supported by the information available to us.
The best option for one person isn't necessarily the best option for someone else. That's why we try to explain why we recommend something, rather than simply telling you what to choose or having a definite list for everyone and every set of circumstances.
10. If we get something wrong, we'll fix it
Nobody gets everything right all the time.
If we discover that we've published incorrect or misleading information, we'll correct it as soon as reasonably possible.
For significant errors, we may also explain what was corrected and publish a retraction. Your right to reply is detailed here.
Our reputation is less important than getting the information right.
How our recommendations work
When we recommend a product, service or provider, our recommendation is based on the information and criteria we believe are relevant to consumers.
Payment does not buy a recommendation.
Commercial relationships can exist alongside independent editorial content, and we'll disclose relevant relationships where appropriate.
We also recognise that there isn't always one universally “best” product. Our aim is to help you understand the options so you can decide what's best for you.
Have we got something wrong?
We want to hear from you.
If you spot an error, think we've missed important information or believe something isn't presented fairly, please contact us.
We'll investigate legitimate concerns and correct information where appropriate.
Our approach is simple: be useful, be transparent, check the facts and put consumers first.