The Disputes Tribunal: small claims without lawyers
Faulty goods, botched jobs, fence shares, unpaid invoices — for disputes up to $30,000, this is the venue built for ordinary people.
What it hears (and what it can't)
Contract and consumer disputes, property damage, fencing shares, dodgy trades — up to $30,000. It can't hear employment matters, tenancy (that's the Tenancy Tribunal), debt where there's no genuine dispute, or defamation. Lawyers generally can't represent parties: you tell your own story, which levels the field against businesses.
Filing is deliberately easy
Apply online through the Ministry of Justice site; fees run roughly $59–$234 by claim size. Name the right respondent (the legal entity on the invoice/receipt — check the Companies Register), describe what happened, what you want, and attach your documents.
Evidence beats eloquence
Referees decide on documents and credibility: the contract or receipt, dated photos, quotes for remediation, a timeline of events, and your written attempts to resolve. Bring three copies of everything. A one-page chronology handed to the referee is worth twenty minutes of talking.
The hearing and the order
Hearings are private, quick (often under an hour) and conversational — the referee asks questions and may push settlement. Orders are binding and enforceable through the court system if ignored. Appeal rights are narrow, so bring your best case the first time.
A consumer problem of your own?
Refunds, faulty goods, dodgy services, uninvited sellers — describe it in plain words and get your rights with the sections to prove them, plus a complaint letter drafted. First question free.
Ask NZ Consumer Law Answers →FAQ
Do I need a lawyer for the Disputes Tribunal?
No — and with narrow exceptions lawyers can't appear. Preparation substitutes for representation: chronology, documents, numbers.
What if the other side doesn't show up?
The hearing can proceed without them and orders can still be made — non-attendance usually hurts the absent party.
Is my claim strong enough to file?
Run it past NZ Consumer Law Answers first — you'll get the legal basis with sections cited, and a demand letter that often settles it before filing. First question free.
General information, not legal advice for your specific situation.
More NZ property tools: NZ Tenancy Answers · NZ Property Law Answers · NZ Trust Answers