New Zealand Legislation: Acts

14 Minors

• (1) A person who has attained the age of 18 years or who is or has been married or in a civil union under that age shall have the same capacity in respect of tenancy agreements, and in respect of the settlement of disputes arising in relation to tenancy agreements, as persons of full age have.

  (2) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, where during a tenancy, the tenant attains the age of 18 years or marries or enters into a civil union for the first time under that age, the tenancy agreement shall thereafter have the same force and effect as it would have had if the tenant had been of full age at the time when the tenant entered into the agreement.

  (3) In any case to which subsection (2) of this section applies, the tenant may, within 10 working days after the date on which the tenant attains the age of 18 years or marries or enters into a civil union, apply to the Tribunal for an order relieving the tenant of all or any of the obligations imposed on the tenant by the agreement.

  (4) Subject to subsections (1) and (2) of this section, the Tribunal shall have and may exercise, in respect of tenancy agreements, all the jurisdiction and powers conferred on the High Court or a District Court by the Minors Contracts Act 1969.

  (5) Except where any proceedings are transferred to a District Court under section 83(2) of this Act or an appeal is brought under any of sections 117, 119, and 120 of this Act, no court shall have jurisdiction under the Minors Contracts Act 1969 in respect of any tenancy agreement.

  Subsection (1) was amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 7 Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 (2005 No 3) by inserting the words “or in a civil union” after the word “married”.

  Subsections (2) and (3) were amended, as from 26 April 2005, by section 7 Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 (2005 No 3) by inserting the words “or enters into a civil union” after the word “marries”.