Disputes Tribunal Act 1988

Jurisdiction, functions, and orders of Tribunal

21: Reasons for decisions

You could also call this:

"Why the Referee Made Their Decision"

Illustration for Disputes Tribunal Act 1988

When you go to the Disputes Tribunal, the Referee makes a decision. You get to know why the Referee made that decision. The Referee writes down their decision and the reasons for it. If the Referee tells you their decision out loud, they still have to write it down. They include the reasons for their decision in the written version. You get a copy of the written decision. A final decision is one that decides what happens in your case.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM133662.

This page was last updated on 28 January 2026 — View changes

Topics:

Crime and justice > Courts and legal help

20A: Suppression orders, or

"Keeping some information secret during a dispute"

22: Orders and approved settlements to be recorded in writing, or

"The Tribunal writes down all agreements and orders so everyone knows what was decided."

Part 2Jurisdiction, functions, and orders of Tribunal

21Reasons for decisions

A Referee must give reasons for his or her final decision in every proceeding.
If a final decision is given orally at the end of a hearing, that decision must be recorded in writing and the reasons for that decision must be included in the written decision.
The Tribunal must provide a copy of a final decision, including the written record of an oral decision, to the parties.
In this section, final decision means a decision that determines, or substantially determines, the outcome of any proceeding.

Notes

Section 21: replaced, on 14 November 2018, by section 43 of the Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018 (2018 No 51).