In the post-war years there was a growing awareness and appreciation of the problems facing the consumer. This led in late 1958 to a national consumer conference in Wellington and to the establishment of Consumer Service. Official support of the new movement was confirmed in the following year under Section 8 of the Finance Act of 1959 which formally established the Consumer Council and defined its role:

The Council is an independent body appointed by the Minister of Industries and Commerce to direct the operations of the Service. It is non-political and is not subject to Government direction or control. It consists of nine members of the public, together with the permanent heads of the four Government Departments actively concerned with consumer problems – Health, Labour, Scientific and Industrial Research, and Industries and Commerce. As it was unlikely that the new organisation could have been established effectively without some assistance, the Government, in sponsoring the movement, decided to provide the necessary administrative staff and accommodation. The Council is assisted by District Consumer Committees which have been appointed by the Minister in the four main centres of population. There are also consumer associations in areas where members of the Service are interested in taking a more active part in consumer affairs. These groups deal mainly with local questions, but they also bring to the notice of the Council matters of national interest.