How to take someone to the Disputes Tribunal in New Zealand. The complete walkthrough

Last updated 18 May 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.

The Disputes Tribunal is the most powerful tool ordinary New Zealanders have for resolving disputes with businesses, neighbours, and other individuals. It is quick, cheap, informal, and binding. Hearings are typically scheduled within six weeks. The filing fee starts at $59.74. Lawyers are not allowed. The Referee runs an inquisitorial process designed for ordinary people to use without representation. And as of 24 January 2026, the Tribunal can hear claims up to $60,000, double the previous limit.

If you have read any of the other Newswire resources articles, you will have seen the Disputes Tribunal mentioned repeatedly. Faulty goods under the Consumer Guarantees Act. Private parking breach notices. Boundary fences. Bad workmanship. Damage to your property. Almost every “this business or this neighbour will not do the right thing” situation in New Zealand ends, if it cannot be resolved directly, at the Disputes Tribunal. This is the article that walks through how the Tribunal actually works, what it can and cannot do, and how to give yourself the best chance of winning.

It is general information, not legal advice. Every claim ties back to the Disputes Tribunal Act 1988 and current Tribunal practice as at May 2026.

What the Disputes Tribunal actually is

The Disputes Tribunal is part of the District Court system but operates very differently from a court. It was established under the Disputes Tribunal Act 1988 as a low-cost, accessible forum for civil disputes that do not need the formality of a court.

Key features:

• No lawyers. Section 38 of the Act prohibits parties from being represented by a lawyer at a hearing. Both sides represent themselves. This creates a level playing field between consumers and businesses.
• No judges. Hearings are run by a Referee. Referees are chosen for their maturity and life experience, many have law degrees and most have training in dispute resolution, but they are not bound to follow legal precedent in the same strict way a court is.
• Private. Hearings are not open to the public or media.
• Inquisitorial, not adversarial. The Referee actively investigates the dispute and questions both parties, rather than passively listening to two sides argue.
• Natural justice. Under section 18(6) of the Act, the Tribunal must have regard to the law but is not bound to give effect to strict legal rights or obligations. It can decide on the broader basis of what is fair.
• Binding. Decisions are enforceable as if they were District Court orders.
• Cheap. Filing fees start at $59.74. There are no additional hearing costs.
• Fast. Hearings are typically scheduled within six weeks.

The combination of these features makes the Disputes Tribunal the right venue for most ordinary disputes. The District Court is faster only for matters that genuinely require formal litigation, and most disputes do not.

What the Tribunal can hear

The jurisdiction is broad. The Tribunal can hear claims involving:

• Faulty goods or services (Consumer Guarantees Act, Fair Trading Act)
• Disputes about contracts up to $60,000 in value
• Property damage (a neighbour reverses into your car, a tree falls on your fence)
• Loss of property (a moving company damages your furniture, dry cleaners ruin a jacket)
• Breach of warranty
• Refunds and replacements
• Quotes that were not honoured
• Disputed invoices
• Boundary fence disputes under the Fencing Act 1978
• Private parking breach notices (covered in detail in the parking article)
• Hire purchase and credit contracts
• Animal damage to property
• Some minor building disputes

And many more. The list in Schedule 1 to the Act sets out the specific statutes that the Tribunal can apply, but the practical answer is that almost any civil dispute under $60,000 between private parties is potentially within jurisdiction.

What the Tribunal cannot hear

Section 10(4) of the Disputes Tribunal Act and various other provisions exclude certain matters from the Tribunal’s jurisdiction. The Tribunal cannot hear:

• Employment disputes (these go to the Employment Relations Authority, see the redundancy article)
• Disputes about land ownership or interests in land
• Family matters (custody, divorce, relationship property)
• Wills and estates
• ACC entitlement decisions (these go through the formal ACC review process, see the ACC article)
• Rates, taxes, and social welfare benefits
• Claims against bankrupts or companies in liquidation
• Claims over $60,000 (since 24 January 2026)
• Tenancy disputes between landlords and tenants (these go to the Tenancy Tribunal, see the tenant rights article)
• Defamation
• Some specific statutory matters reserved for other tribunals or courts

The Tribunal has no jurisdiction over criminal matters. If your dispute is about a crime, that goes to the police, not the Tribunal.

The $60,000 limit, what it means

From 24 January 2026, the financial jurisdiction of the Disputes Tribunal was doubled from $30,000 to $60,000 under the Disputes Tribunal Amendment Act 2025. This was the first increase since 2017 and dramatically expands what the Tribunal can do for ordinary New Zealanders.

The $60,000 limit applies to the total amount you are claiming, not to the value of the relationship between the parties. You cannot split one dispute into multiple claims to fit within the limit. If your dispute is worth $80,000, you have two options: either accept the $60,000 cap and abandon $20,000 of the claim, or take it to the District Court instead.

For most consumer and small property disputes, $60,000 is more than enough. The Tribunal can now hear disputes that previously had to go to the District Court, significantly more building disputes, more substantial faulty goods claims, more workmanship disputes, more car damage claims.

The cost calculation has shifted accordingly. For a $40,000 dispute, the Tribunal filing fee is $468 versus several thousand dollars in legal fees for a District Court action. For most people, the Tribunal is now the obvious choice up to the $60,000 limit.

Filing fees, the current schedule

The filing fee depends on the value of your claim.

• Claims up to $2,000: $59.74
• Claims from $2,001 to $5,000: $114.69
• Claims from $5,001 to $30,000: $234.65
• Claims from $30,001 to $60,000: $468 (new tier introduced 24 January 2026)

You pay the fee when you file. If you win, you can usually recover the filing fee from the other party. If you lose, you do not get it back.

Before you file, the things to do first

Most successful Disputes Tribunal claims are built well before the hearing. The work you do at the front end determines the outcome.

One. Make sure there is actually a dispute. Under section 10(5) of the Act, the Tribunal can only hear a matter where there is a dispute. You need to have tried to resolve the matter directly with the other party first. A letter, an email, a phone call, anything that puts the other party on notice that you are unhappy and gives them an opportunity to respond. If they refuse or ignore you, that is a dispute. If you have never raised it with them, you do not yet have a Tribunal-ready dispute.

Two. Get the right party. This is one of the most common mistakes. If you bought goods from a shop, your claim is against the shop, not the manufacturer. If you contracted with a tradesperson, your claim is against the tradesperson or their company. If you are claiming against a company, get the correct legal entity name (look it up on the Companies Office free of charge). Naming the wrong party can be fatal to a claim, or at minimum cause delays.

Three. Gather your evidence. The Tribunal makes decisions on evidence. The strongest claims have:

• Receipts and proof of purchase
• Contracts or written agreements
• Emails and text messages
• Photographs (dated where possible)
• Repair quotes from independent providers
• Witness statements (a brief signed written statement is fine)
• Expert reports if relevant (more on this below)
• A clear timeline of events with dates

Save everything to a folder. Number the documents. Print the key ones for the hearing.

Four. Be clear about what you want. The Tribunal can order:

• Payment of money
• Return of property
• Work to be done (an “order to do work”)
• A declaration about rights or obligations
• Various combinations of the above

Decide what outcome you actually want before filing. Vague claims fare worse than specific ones. “I want compensation” is weaker than “I want $1,250 to cover the cost of the replacement [item] plus $200 for the courier costs.”

Five. Decide whether to negotiate further first. Sometimes the threat of a Tribunal claim is more powerful than the claim itself. A polite letter or email stating that you will lodge a Tribunal claim by a specific date unless the matter is resolved often gets results. Many businesses settle immediately once they realise you are serious.

A useful template:

> Dear [Name], > I refer to my [previous email or letter] dated [date] regarding [the matter]. > Despite my attempts to resolve this directly, the matter remains unresolved. I am writing to advise that unless [specific remedy] is provided by [date, 10 working days is usually reasonable], I will lodge a claim with the Disputes Tribunal under [the relevant Act]. > I would prefer to resolve this without involving the Tribunal but I am prepared to do so if necessary. > Yours faithfully, [Name]

If the response is positive, you have saved yourself a filing fee. If it is negative or there is no response, you have a clear paper trail showing you tried.

How to file the claim

There are two ways to file.

Online (easiest). Go to the Disputes Tribunal website and complete the online application form. You will need:

• Your contact details
• The full legal name and contact details of the person or business you are claiming against
• A clear statement of the facts (when did this happen, what happened, why is the other party at fault)
• The amount you are claiming and how you calculated it
• A list of the documents you will rely on
• Payment of the filing fee by credit or debit card

The form takes 30 to 60 minutes to complete if you have your information ready. You cannot save it part-way through, so prepare everything first.

By paper. Download the Disputes Tribunal claim form, complete it, and deliver three copies plus your filing fee to your local District Court. The court will process the claim from there.

The 6-year time limit. You generally need to file your claim within six years of the event that caused the dispute (under the Limitation Act 2010). Some specific claims have shorter limits. If you are getting close to the six-year mark, do not delay, file even if you are still gathering evidence.

After filing, what happens

Once your claim is filed:

One. The Tribunal serves the other party. The Tribunal staff send a copy of your claim to the other party along with details of the hearing. You do not have to do the serving yourself.

Two. The other party responds. The other party has 14 days to file a response. They can:

• Admit the claim and offer to settle
• Dispute the claim and file a defence
• File a counterclaim against you
• Do nothing (the matter still goes to a hearing)

Three. The hearing is scheduled. Hearings are typically scheduled within four to six weeks of filing, though this varies by region. You will receive a Notice of Hearing telling you the date, time, and location.

Four. You prepare. Use the time between filing and the hearing to organise your evidence, prepare your submissions, and practise what you will say.

Preparing for the hearing

A well-prepared applicant who can clearly explain the facts wins more often than a poorly-prepared one with a strong case. Preparation is the single biggest factor you can control.

Prepare a written submission. This is not strictly required but experienced Referees say it makes a real difference. The submission is a one or two-page summary of:

• The facts (chronological)
• The legal basis for your claim (which statute or guarantee was breached)
• The remedy you are seeking and how you calculated it
• The key documents you are relying on

Bring three copies of the submission to the hearing. Give one to the Referee, one to the other party, and keep one. If you want, you can also send it to the District Court a few days in advance so the Referee can read it before the hearing.

Organise your evidence into a folder. Number each document. Have an index page at the front. The Referee should be able to navigate your evidence quickly.

Prepare a clear timeline. A one-page chronology with dates is enormously useful. “On 5 March I purchased the item. On 12 April it stopped working. On 13 April I contacted the shop. On 20 April the shop refused to refund. On 30 April I filed this claim.”

Prepare your key points. Write down the three or four things you most want the Referee to understand. In the hearing, you will be asked to explain what happened. Have these points ready so you do not forget them under pressure.

Practise. Run through your case with a friend or family member who can ask you the awkward questions. What does the other side say? How do you respond? What are the weak points in your case? Rehearsing these is much easier than thinking on your feet during the hearing.

Bring witnesses if needed. If someone else can corroborate your version of events, ask them to come. The Tribunal can hear witnesses, who are usually asked to wait outside the room until called. A brief signed written statement is often enough, but a witness in person can be more persuasive.

Expert evidence. For technical disputes (faulty workmanship, building defects, mechanical issues), an independent expert report is often the difference between winning and losing. The cost of an expert assessment (typically $300 to $800) is recoverable as part of the claim if you win, and the Referee will give significant weight to a written expert opinion. The expert does not usually have to attend in person, a written report is normally sufficient.

What happens at the hearing

Tribunal hearings are designed to be approachable. They are held in a private room at the District Court, not the main courtroom. There is no public gallery. The atmosphere is more like a meeting than a trial.

Who is in the room. You, the other party, the Referee, and any witnesses you have brought (witnesses usually wait outside until called). If you have a support person, you can ask for them to come in, but they cannot speak during the hearing.

The order of events.

• The Referee introduces everyone and explains the procedure
• The applicant (the person who filed the claim) speaks first, setting out the facts and the claim
• The respondent (the other party) responds, setting out their position
• The Referee asks questions of both parties, often quite a lot of them
• Witnesses are called in if there are any
• The Referee may try to mediate a settlement between the parties
• If no settlement, the Referee gives a decision either orally at the hearing or in writing afterwards

Length. Hearings typically run for 45 minutes to 90 minutes. Complex cases can take longer.

The Referee’s role. The Referee actively investigates. They will ask hard questions of both sides. They are not on either side. Their job is to get to the truth and resolve the dispute fairly.

Settlement at the hearing. About 25 per cent of cases settle on the day, often after the Referee has questioned both sides and the parties realise where they stand. If you reach a settlement that the Referee approves, it is binding and enforceable in the same way as a Tribunal order.

The decision. The Referee may give a decision at the hearing or reserve it for a written decision delivered later (usually within a few weeks). The decision will set out:

• The facts as the Referee found them
• The legal basis for the decision
• The order, who pays what, by when, or what is to be done

Common mistakes that cost claimants the case

After thousands of decisions are public on the Disputes Tribunal decision finder, the patterns are clear. The most common reasons people lose cases they should have won:

Naming the wrong party. Suing the manager personally instead of the company. Suing the trading name instead of the registered company. The Tribunal can correct this in some cases but it causes delays and sometimes cannot be fixed.

Not bringing evidence. “He said, she said” cases without documents are very hard to win. Even text messages or emails are enormously helpful.

Failing to quantify the loss. Saying “I want compensation” without explaining how much and why. The Tribunal cannot order an undefined amount.

Trying to argue everything. Strong cases focus on the one or two key points. Weak cases throw in every grievance the applicant has ever had with the other party.

Being unprepared on the day. Arriving without your documents, without a timeline, without having thought through what you want to say. Referees notice.

Being aggressive. The Tribunal is a calm forum. Anger and hostility do not help. The Referee is looking for facts, not emotion. Stay polite even when the other side is being unreasonable.

Misunderstanding the law. Asserting rights you do not have, or missing rights you do. This guide and the others in the series exist to help with this.

Wasting the Referee’s time. Long preambles, irrelevant background, complaints about how unfair life is. Focus.

The decision

If you win, the Referee will issue an Order that the other party must comply with, usually within a specified time (commonly 7, 14, or 28 days).

If you lose, the claim is dismissed.

If both sides have claims (a claim and counterclaim), the Referee can rule on both.

The decision is binding. The Referee’s reasons are recorded and the written decision can be obtained from the Tribunal or the District Court.

Costs. The Tribunal cannot award legal costs (because lawyers are not allowed), but it can order the losing party to pay the winning party’s filing fee and any reasonable expenses (such as expert report costs). This is at the Referee’s discretion.

What if the other party does not pay

This is one of the most common questions, and the answer matters. The Tribunal does not enforce its own decisions. If the other party does not pay or do what the order requires, you have to enforce it yourself through the District Court.

The enforcement options:

Civil debt collection. If money was ordered, you can register the decision as a District Court judgment and use any of the standard civil debt enforcement methods:

• Attachment Order. Money is deducted directly from the debtor’s wages or benefit
• Distress warrant. The bailiff seizes and sells the debtor’s goods
• Garnishee order. Money is taken from the debtor’s bank account or from money owed to them by third parties
• Charging order. A charge is placed over the debtor’s property
• Examination hearing. The debtor is required to appear in court and answer questions about their assets

Forms and fees for each enforcement step are available on the Ministry of Justice website.

Practical reality. Most decisions are paid voluntarily once issued, particularly against businesses that care about their reputation or credit record. The threshold question if the other party does not pay is whether they actually have the means to pay. Enforcement against someone with no income or assets is very difficult. If the respondent is a company that has gone into liquidation, you become an unsecured creditor with little realistic prospect of recovery.

Debt collection agencies. Many people use a debt collection agency to enforce a Tribunal order. The agency takes a percentage of what they recover. This can be efficient for awkward debtors.

Do not pay before the deadline. If you are the losing party, you do not have to pay before the deadline in the order. But you also need to think carefully about a rehearing or appeal application, which both have very tight time limits (below).

Rehearings and appeals

A Tribunal decision is generally final, but two limited mechanisms exist for challenging it.

Rehearing

You can apply for a rehearing within 20 working days of the decision under section 49 of the Act. There is no fee.

The grounds for a rehearing are narrow. The Tribunal will grant a rehearing only if there was a substantial miscarriage of justice, for example:

• You did not receive notice of the hearing
• A witness or party could not attend for an unexpected and valid reason
• The Referee made a clear error in the order
• New evidence has emerged that was not reasonably available at the original hearing and would have affected the result

You cannot get a rehearing simply because you disagree with the decision. The Tribunal has repeatedly said that “a rehearing is not an alternative to an appeal.”

The same Referee who heard the original case will consider the rehearing application. If granted, the rehearing is usually conducted by a different Referee. Apply online or by paper using the rehearing form.

Appeal to the District Court

You can appeal a Tribunal decision to the District Court within 20 working days under section 50 of the Act. The filing fee is $200. You can have a lawyer in the District Court if you choose to.

The grounds for appeal are extraordinarily narrow. There is only one legal ground for an appeal: that the Referee ran the hearing (or an investigation) in a way that was unfair and that the unfairness affected the result.

This means:

• You cannot appeal because you disagree with the Referee’s decision on the merits
• You cannot appeal because the Referee got the law wrong (in your view)
• You cannot appeal because you wish you had presented different evidence

You can appeal if:

• The Referee did not let you give evidence
• The Referee made up their mind before hearing your side
• The Referee was biased against you
• You were not given a reasonable opportunity to prepare

The appeal is heard by a District Court judge. The judge does not re-hear the facts. The judge only considers whether the hearing was procedurally unfair. If the appeal succeeds, the judge can cancel the order, send the matter back to the Tribunal for a rehearing, or transfer the dispute to the District Court.

In practice, fewer than 5 per cent of appeals succeed. The Tribunal is designed to be the end of the line for most disputes, and the appeal route is deliberately narrow.

When to use the Disputes Tribunal versus other forums

The Tribunal is the right venue for most ordinary civil disputes under $60,000. But there are situations where another forum is required or preferable.

Use the Disputes Tribunal for:

• Consumer disputes about goods and services (CGA claims)
• Private parking breach notices
• Boundary fence disputes
• Property damage by another person
• Bad workmanship by a tradesperson
• Minor building disputes
• Quotes not honoured, contracts breached
• Disputed invoices
• Damage to your car by another driver (where no criminal matter)

Use the Tenancy Tribunal for:

• Bond disputes
• Termination disputes
• Rent arrears
• Any landlord-tenant matter (see the tenant rights article)

Use the Employment Relations Authority for:

• Personal grievances (unjustified dismissal, redundancy challenges, discrimination, harassment)
• Unpaid wages
• Holiday Pay Act claims (see the redundancy article)

Use the formal ACC review process for:

• Declined ACC claims
• Stopped weekly compensation
• Surgery declines
• Any ACC entitlement decision (see the ACC article)

Use the District Court for:

• Civil claims over $60,000
• Complex matters that need formal litigation
• Defamation
• Matters where you specifically want a lawyer to represent you

Use the Police Infringement Bureau or NZTA for:

• Disputing speeding, parking, or red light camera tickets (see the relevant articles)

Use the Commerce Commission for:

• Complaints about misleading conduct by businesses under the Fair Trading Act
• Anti-competitive practices

Free help when you need it

You can use the Disputes Tribunal without any help, but free assistance is available if you want it.

• The Disputes Tribunal website has step-by-step guides and templates
• Citizens Advice Bureau on 0800 367 222 provides free general guidance on how to use the Tribunal
• Community Law Centres provide free initial advice
• The Consumer NZ website has detailed Tribunal guides (some content requires paid membership)
• The Consumer Protection government website has template letters and a complaint process guide

A lawyer cannot represent you at the hearing, but you can pay for a lawyer to help you prepare your written submissions, your evidence, and your strategy before the hearing. For higher-value claims (closer to the $60,000 limit), this can be worthwhile. The cost is usually a few hundred dollars for an hour or two of advice.

The takeaway

The Disputes Tribunal is a quietly excellent piece of New Zealand’s legal infrastructure. It is one of the few forums in any country where ordinary people, without legal training and without legal fees, can take a business or another individual to a binding hearing and walk out with an enforceable order. With the limit lifted to $60,000 in January 2026, it covers virtually every ordinary civil dispute a New Zealander is likely to face.

The pattern that works:

• Try to resolve the matter directly first, in writing, with a clear deadline
• File online with a clear claim, the correct party name, and a specific remedy
• Prepare a one-page written submission and an organised evidence folder
• Bring witnesses or expert reports where relevant
• Show up calm, prepared, and focused on the facts
• Be ready to accept a sensible settlement if one is offered at the hearing
• Enforce the decision through the District Court if the other party does not comply

The single biggest mistake most claimants make is treating the Tribunal like a complaint forum rather than a legal forum. The Referee is making a decision based on evidence and law. The party who comes prepared, with documents, with a clear timeline, with specific damages calculated, and with a clear request, wins disproportionately often.

The second biggest mistake is missing the time limits. 20 working days for a rehearing or appeal. Strict. No extensions for most situations. If you have just received a decision and you are unhappy with it, act now.

If you take only one thing from this guide, take this. The Disputes Tribunal is built for you, not for the business or person you are taking action against. It costs them more time and money to defend a claim than it costs you to bring one. Once they realise you are serious, most disputes resolve. The Tribunal is the leverage that makes the rest of New Zealand’s consumer and civil law actually work.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Disputes Tribunal in New Zealand

The Disputes Tribunal is a low-cost, informal forum that hears civil disputes up to $60,000 in value. It is part of the District Court system but operates very differently. There are no lawyers, no judges, hearings are private, the Referee actively investigates, and decisions are binding and enforceable. It was established under the Disputes Tribunal Act 1988 to give ordinary New Zealanders access to a quick and affordable dispute resolution forum.

How much does it cost to take someone to the Disputes Tribunal in New Zealand

Filing fees range from $59.74 for claims up to $2,000, to $468 for claims between $30,001 and $60,000. There are no additional hearing costs. If you win, you can usually recover your filing fee from the other party. Lawyers are not allowed at the hearing, so legal fees are not part of the cost equation.

What is the Disputes Tribunal claim limit in New Zealand

$60,000 since 24 January 2026, doubled from $30,000 under the Disputes Tribunal Amendment Act 2025. The limit applies to the total amount claimed. If your dispute is worth more, you can either accept the cap and abandon the excess, or take it to the District Court instead.

How long does the Disputes Tribunal take

Hearings are typically scheduled within four to six weeks of filing. The hearing itself lasts 45 to 90 minutes. Decisions are usually given orally at the hearing or reserved for a written decision within a few weeks. From filing to a final binding decision is normally six to eight weeks total.

Can I have a lawyer at the Disputes Tribunal in New Zealand

No. Section 38 of the Disputes Tribunal Act prohibits parties from being represented by a lawyer at a hearing. This applies to both sides. You can pay a lawyer to help you prepare your written submissions and strategy before the hearing, but they cannot speak for you at the hearing itself.

What can the Disputes Tribunal not hear

Employment disputes, tenancy disputes, ACC entitlement decisions, land ownership disputes, family matters, wills and estates, claims against bankrupts or companies in liquidation, defamation, claims over $60,000, and criminal matters. Each of these has its own specialist forum, the Employment Relations Authority, Tenancy Tribunal, ACC review process, Family Court, and so on.

Can I appeal a Disputes Tribunal decision in New Zealand

Only on very narrow grounds. You have 20 working days to appeal to the District Court under section 50 of the Act, and the only ground is that the Referee ran the hearing in a way that was unfair and that unfairness affected the result. You cannot appeal simply because you disagree with the decision or because the Referee got the law wrong. Fewer than 5 per cent of appeals succeed.

How do I enforce a Disputes Tribunal decision in New Zealand

The Tribunal does not enforce its own decisions. If the other party does not pay or comply with the order, you register the decision as a District Court judgment and use civil enforcement, attachment orders, distress warrants, garnishee orders, charging orders, or examination hearings. Forms and fees are on the Ministry of Justice website. Many people use a debt collection agency to handle enforcement on a percentage basis.

Do I need evidence to win at the Disputes Tribunal

Yes. The Tribunal decides on evidence. Strong claims have receipts, contracts, emails, photographs, repair quotes, witness statements, and a clear timeline. The single biggest reason people lose cases they should have won is failure to bring documentary evidence. Verbal “he said, she said” cases without supporting documents are very hard to win.

What is the difference between the Disputes Tribunal and the Tenancy Tribunal in New Zealand

The Disputes Tribunal hears general civil disputes between any private parties, up to $60,000. The Tenancy Tribunal hears only landlord-tenant disputes under the Residential Tenancies Act, and has no upper limit. If your dispute is about a tenancy (bond, eviction, repairs, rent), it goes to the Tenancy Tribunal, not the Disputes Tribunal. Filing fee for the Tenancy Tribunal is $20.44.

How do I file a Disputes Tribunal claim online in New Zealand

Go to disputestribunal.govt.nz/how-to-make-a-claim/ and complete the online application form. You will need your contact details, the legal name and contact details of the party you are claiming against, a clear statement of the facts, the amount claimed and how you calculated it, and payment of the filing fee by credit or debit card. The form takes 30 to 60 minutes and cannot be saved partway through, so prepare your information first.

What is the time limit for a Disputes Tribunal claim in New Zealand

Six years from the date of the event that caused the dispute, under the Limitation Act 2010. Some specific types of claim have shorter limits. If you are approaching the six-year mark, file straight away, even if you are still gathering evidence. You can refine the claim later.

Have you successfully taken a business or individual to the Disputes Tribunal? Tell us how in the comments below.