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Disputes Tribunal Act 1988

Jurisdiction, functions, and orders of Tribunal

10: Jurisdiction of Tribunal

You could also call this:

"The Tribunal can help with claims up to $60,000"

Illustration for Disputes Tribunal Act 1988

The Tribunal can help you with claims about contracts or quasi-contracts. You can also go to the Tribunal for claims about damage or loss of property. The Tribunal can make decisions if the total amount is $60,000 or less.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM133638.

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"Pay for the Principal Disputes Referee and Referees"

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11: Further limitations on jurisdiction, or

"What the Tribunal can and can't decide"

Part 2Jurisdiction, functions, and orders of Tribunal

10Jurisdiction of Tribunal

  1. Subject to this section and to section 11, the Tribunal shall have jurisdiction in respect of—

  2. a claim founded on contract or quasi-contract; and
    1. a claim for a declaration that a person is not liable to another person in respect of a claim or demand, founded on contract or quasi-contract, made against that person by that other person; and
      1. a claim in tort in respect of—
        1. the destruction or loss of any property:
          1. any damage or injury to any property:
            1. the recovery of any property.

            2. The Tribunal has jurisdiction to exercise any power conferred on a court by any enactment listed in Part 1 of Schedule 1 if—

            3. the occasion for the exercise of the power arises in the course of proceedings properly before the Tribunal; and
              1. the total amount sought in the proceedings does not exceed $60,000.

                1. The Tribunal shall have such other jurisdiction as is conferred upon it by any of the enactments specified in Part 2 of Schedule 1.

                2. For the purposes of subsection (1), a claim is within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal only if the total amount in respect of which an order of the Tribunal is sought does not exceed $60,000, including,—

                3. where a claim is made for the recovery of property, the value of that property; and
                  1. where a claim is made for a work order, the value of the work sought to be included in the order.

                    1. If it is necessary for the purposes of this Act to ascertain the value of any property or work or to resolve any dispute as to such value (whether for the purposes of subsection (3) or otherwise), that value shall be determined by the Tribunal in such manner as it thinks fit, and the Tribunal may, for that purpose, appoint an Investigator to report to it under section 41.

                    2. The Limitation Act 2010 prescribes defences in respect of claims based on an act or omission after 31 December 2010.

                    Compare
                    • 1976 No 35 s 9
                    • 1985 No 38 s 2
                    Notes
                    • Section 10 heading: amended, on , by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).
                    • Section 10(1): amended, on , by section 35(1) of the Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018 (2018 No 51).
                    • Section 10(1): amended, on , by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).
                    • Section 10(1A): inserted, on , by section 3(1) of the Disputes Tribunals Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 80).
                    • Section 10(1A): amended, on , by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).
                    • Section 10(1A)(b): replaced, on , by section 35(2) of the Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018 (2018 No 51).
                    • Section 10(1A)(b): amended, on , by section 4(1) of the Disputes Tribunal Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 60).
                    • Section 10(2): amended, on , by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).
                    • Section 10(2): amended, on , by section 3(2) of the Disputes Tribunals Amendment Act 2002 (2002 No 80).
                    • Section 10(3): amended, on , by section 4(2) of the Disputes Tribunal Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 60).
                    • Section 10(3): amended, on , by section 35(3)(a) of the Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018 (2018 No 51).
                    • Section 10(3): amended, on , by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).
                    • Section 10(5): substituted, on , by section 58 of the Limitation Act 2010 (2010 No 110).