You can enforce an order to pay costs made by the Authority. To do this, you file a copy of the order in a court. The court will then treat the order like a final judgment. You can file the order in the court named in the order. The order will say which court to use. This is the court that will enforce the order if needed. The court that enforces the order depends on how much money is involved. If the amount is more than $12,000, the High Court will enforce it. If the amount is $12,000 or less, the District Court will enforce it.

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This page was last updated on 27 October 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM157442.

Topics:

Crime and justice > Courts and legal helpMoney and consumer rights > Consumer protection

16: Power to award costs, or

"The Authority can make someone pay costs to another person or the Crown in a complaint."

18: Appeal against decision of Authority, or

"Challenging a Decision Made by the Broadcasting Authority"

Part 2Complaints

17Enforcement of orders for costs

For the purpose of enforcing any order of the Authority for the payment of costs, a duplicate of such order may be filed by the person to whom the costs are payable in the office of the court named in the order and shall thereupon be enforceable in all respects as a final judgment of that court in its civil jurisdiction.
In every case where an order for costs is made, the order shall name the court in which the order may, if necessary, be enforced.
The court so named shall, where the amount recoverable under the order—
exceeds $12,000, be the High Court; and
does not exceed $12,000, be the District Court.