New Zealand business website checklist: GST, the Privacy Act 2020 and selling online
What a New Zealand business website needs in 2026: GST-inclusive prices, a privacy statement under the Privacy Act 2020, making clear you are in trade, rules for marketing emails and texts, and the payments Kiwi shoppers expect.
By Syed Shahzaib Ali · 12 November 2026 · 2 min read
New Zealand's rules for business websites are short and practical, and the regulators explain them in plain English. This is the checklist we use for New Zealand builds. It is general guidance, not legal advice.
1. Make it clear you are in trade
The Commerce Commission says that if you sell goods or services online you must make it clear you are in trade, clearly and prominently in every place where a customer can complete a purchase. In practice: your business name, a contact address and your terms on product, cart and checkout pages, not hidden on a separate page.
2. Show GST-inclusive prices
GST is 15%. You must register once your turnover is at least $60,000 in the last 12 months, and also if you add GST to your prices. Show consumers the price they will pay, including GST and any fee they cannot avoid.
3. Write a privacy statement
The Privacy Act 2020 sets out principles for collecting, storing and using personal information. Your website should say what you collect, why, who receives it and how people can see or correct their information. Two points for small businesses:
- You need at least one person who acts as privacy officer.
- A new principle, IPP3A, took effect on 1 May 2026. It covers telling people when you collect their information from someone else, for example from a referral partner or a data provider.
4. Follow the rules for marketing messages
The Unsolicited Electronic Messages Act covers commercial email and texts. The receiver must agree to get your messages, you must clearly and accurately say who you are, and there must be a clear and easy way to unsubscribe. Sign-up forms should say what people will receive.
5. Word your returns policy carefully
The Consumer Guarantees Act gives customers rights that a "no refunds" sign cannot remove. Say what you offer for change of mind, and state that the Act's guarantees apply to faulty goods and services.
6. Offer the payments New Zealanders use
- Cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay
- PayPal
- Afterpay for instalments
- Bank payments for invoices
7. What customers look for
- Delivery times for the North and South Islands, including rural delivery.
- Google reviews and a Google Business Profile that matches the site.
- Pages for the places you serve, from Auckland and Wellington to Christchurch, Hamilton and Tauranga.
- A site that is fast on a phone.
How we can help
We build New Zealand websites and Shopify stores with GST-inclusive pricing, clear trader details and consent wording in place before launch. See our New Zealand page or ask for a quote.
Frequently asked questions
- Does a small business need a privacy officer?
- Yes. The Privacy Act requires organisations to have at least one person who fulfils the role of privacy officer. In a small business that is usually the owner or manager.
- Do my prices have to include GST?
- Prices shown to consumers should be the price they will pay, including GST. If you show GST-exclusive prices to business customers, say so clearly.
- What does 'in trade' mean for my website?
- If you regularly sell goods or services, you are in trade, and customers get the protection of the Consumer Guarantees Act and the Fair Trading Act. Your site should make that clear with your business name and contact details where people buy.
- How much does a website cost with The Dev Studio?
- Our fixed packages are US$299, US$599 and US$1,599, with Shopify stores from US$999. You get a written quote before any work starts.
See how we work with New Zealand businesses
Websites, Shopify stores, SEO and apps for New Zealand businesses at a fixed price.