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Hon Paul Goldsmith

Disputes Tribunal Amendment Bill

Government Bill

98—2

The Parliament of New Zealand enacts as follows:

1 Title

This Act is the Disputes Tribunal Amendment Act 2024.

2 Commencement

This Act comes into force 3 months after Royal assent.

Part 1 Amendments to Disputes Tribunal Act 1988

3 Principal Act

This Part amends the Disputes Tribunal Act 1988.

4 Section 10 amended (Jurisdiction of Tribunal)

(1)

In section 10(1A)(b), replace “$30,000” with “$60,000”.

(2)

In section 10(3), replace “$30,000” with “$60,000”.

5 Section 14 amended (Abandonment to bring claim within jurisdiction)

In section 14, replace “$30,000” with “$60,000”.

6 Section 19 amended (Orders of Tribunal)

(1)

In section 19(5), replace “$30,000” with “$60,000” in each place.

(2)

In section 19(6), replace “$30,000” with “$60,000”.

7 Schedule 1AA amended

In Schedule 1AA,—

(a)

insert the Part set out in Schedule 1 of this Act as the last Part; and

(b)

make all necessary consequential amendments.

Part 2 Amendments to other enactments

Amendments to Disputes Tribunal Rules 1989

8 Principal rules

Section 9 amends the Disputes Tribunal Rules 1989.

9 Rule 5 amended (Fees)

(1)

In rule 5(1)(c), after “or more”, insert “but less than $30,001”.

(2)

After rule 5(1)(c), insert:

(d)

$468, if the total amount in respect of which an order of the Tribunal is sought under the claim is $30,001 or more.

Consequential amendments

10 Consequential amendments

Amend the Acts specified in Schedule 2 as set out in that schedule.

Schedule 1 New Part 3 inserted into Schedule 1AA

s 7

Part 3 Provisions relating to Disputes Tribunal Amendment Act 2024

3 Jurisdictional limit of claims made before commencement date

(1)

This clause applies to a person who, before the commencement date,—

(a)

makes a claim under this Act; and

(b)

abandons under section 14 so much of the claim as exceeds $30,000 in order to bring the claim within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal.

(2)

If the claim has not been disposed of before the commencement date, the person may not, on or after the commencement date,—

(a)

amend the claim to include any of the amount of the claim that the person abandoned under section 14; or

(b)

withdraw, or ask the Disputes Tribunal to strike out, the claim in order to make a new claim seeking—

(i)

the amount originally claimed; and

(ii)

the amount, in whole or in part, that the person had abandoned under section 14.

(3)

In this clause, commencement date means the date on which this clause comes into force.

Schedule 2 Consequential amendments

s 10

Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 (1993 No 91)

In section 47(4), replace “$30,000” with “$60,000”.

In section 47(5), replace “$30,000” with “$60,000” in each place.

Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017 (2017 No 5)

In section 114(1)(b), replace “$30,000” with “$60,000”.

In section 114(2), replace “$30,000” with “$60,000” in each place.

Credit Contracts and Consumer Finance Act 2003 (2003 No 52)

In section 87(1), replace “$30,000” with “$60,000”.

In section 87(2), replace “$30,000” with “$60,000”.

In section 87(3), replace “$30,000” with “$60,000” in each place.

Customer and Product Data Act 2025 (2025 No 14)

In section 78, guidance note, replace “$30,000” with “$60,000”.

In section 94(1), replace “$30,000” with “$60,000”.

In section 94(2), replace “$30,000” with “$60,000” in each place.

Fair Trading Act 1986 (1986 No 121)

In section 36B(2), replace “$30,000” with “$60,000”.

In section 43B(2)(a), replace “$30,000” with “$60,000”.

Fencing Act 1978 (1978 No 50)

In section 24A(2), replace “$30,000” with “$60,000” in each place.

Retirement Villages Act 2003 (2003 No 112)

In section 83(2), replace “$30,000” with “$60,000” in each place.

Legislative history

14 November 2024		Introduction (Bill 98–1)
19 November 2024		First reading and referral to Justice Committee
28 March 2025		Reported from Justice Committee
3 April 2025		Second reading
23 July 2025		Committee of the whole House (Bill 98–2)

Disputes Tribunal Amendment Bill