Consumer advocate ‘delighted’
When Sue Chetwin gets outraged, change happens.
In her 13 years as the chief executive of Consumer New Zealand, Chetwin has been a tireless champion for the New Zealand shopper, forcing regulatory reforms for sunscreen standards, mobile truck shops and unfair contracts, among a long list of policy wins.
She has been made a companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit as part of the New Year Honours.
‘‘I’m just delighted because I believe it’s a recognition that consumer issues and rights matter.’’
Chetwin has always had a strong sense of justice, stemming from her early career in journalism.
She was editor of the Sunday Star-Times from 1998 to 2003, and the founding editor of the Herald On Sunday in 2003.
That sense of justice and outrage transferred naturally into consumer activism.
‘‘I learnt the ability to investigate but also standing up for what you believe is right. Standing up for people who can’t speak for themselves but also standing against people who are well able to speak for themselves and who threaten you.’’
While corporations and government agencies constantly have the ear of politicians, consumers can be forgotten without advocates like Chetwin.
Her career at Consumer NZ was bookended by two fights against irresponsible sunscreen manufacturers. The number of ways in which Chetwin’s work has touched the lives of Kiwis are almost too many to count.
Other wins she is particularly proud of include laws preventing door-knockers from coming onto people’s property uninvited, and a crackdown on loan sharks.
She credits her success to her ‘‘feisty’’ nature, and the people she has worked with.
Chetwin stepped down as head of Consumer New Zealand in February.