The New Zealand Commerce Commission has received a clearance application from Comhla Vet Limited, which seeks to acquire 100% of Veterinaryfirst Limited. Both companies provide veterinary services for companion and production animals.

Comhla Vet operates a network of 52 veterinary clinics under various brands, including West Coast Vets and Vetlife, and is part of the Comhla Group, which has diverse operations in the veterinary supply chain. This includes veterinary product wholesaling and nutritional supplies.

Veterinaryfirst Limited operates 17 clinics under the Petfirst and Farmfirst brands, focusing on companion and production animals, respectively. The Commission has published a statement of preliminary issues regarding the acquisition, inviting public comments on its competitive effects.

Interested parties can submit their views via email by November 11, 2026. The Commission plans to make a decision by December 16, 2026, although this timeline may change if further information is needed to assess competition concerns.