A direction requiring its approval of rule changes is just one kind of direction that the commission can make if it has concerns about the impact of rule changes on efficiency or competition. An alternative would be for the commission to require an operator to notify it of any rule changes. If a change then raises concerns for the commission, it could make a direction changing the rule itself after following the same process. These directions do not have extraterritorial effect; they would only affect networks here in New Zealand.