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Consumer Guarantees Act 1993

Miscellaneous provisions - General provisions

47: Jurisdiction

You could also call this:

"Where you can take a claim to court or tribunal under the Consumer Guarantees Act"

Illustration for Consumer Guarantees Act 1993

You can take a claim to a court or the Disputes Tribunal. The court or tribunal can hear your claim and make an order. You can claim for costs, damages, or a refund under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993. You can go to the High Court or the District Court. The District Court can hear claims up to $350,000. The Disputes Tribunal can hear claims up to $60,000. The District Court and the Disputes Tribunal can make orders under section 23A or 39. These orders can require someone to pay money or return property. But there are limits to what the District Court and the Disputes Tribunal can order. The Disputes Tribunal is established under section 4 of the Disputes Tribunal Act 1988. You can find more information about the Disputes Tribunal Act 1988 on the New Zealand legislation website https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM133619

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM312870.

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Topics:
Money and consumer rights > Consumer protection
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Part 5Miscellaneous provisions
General provisions

47Jurisdiction

  1. Any court of competent jurisdiction, and the Disputes Tribunal established under section 4 of the Disputes Tribunal Act 1988 if it has jurisdiction under this section, may hear and determine any claim for costs, damages, or for a refund payable under this Act and may make an order under section 23A or 39.

  2. In this section, court of competent jurisdiction means—

  3. the High Court:
    1. the District Court in any case where—
      1. a claim referred to in subsection (1) does not exceed $350,000; or
        1. an order under section 23A or 39 does not exceed the limits prescribed by subsection (3).

        2. The District Court may make an order under section 23A or 39 if the order does not—

        3. require a person to pay an amount exceeding $350,000:
          1. vest any property exceeding $350,000 in value in any person:
            1. direct the transfer or assignment or delivery of possession of any property exceeding $350,000 in value:
              1. permit a supplier to retain any money paid or other consideration provided in excess of an aggregate value of $350,000.

                1. The Disputes Tribunal shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine any claim referred to in subsection (1) where the claim does not exceed $60,000.

                2. The Disputes Tribunal may make an order under section 23A or 39 if the order does not—

                3. require a person to pay an amount exceeding $60,000:
                  1. vest any property exceeding $60,000 in value:
                    1. direct the transfer or assignment or delivery of possession of any property exceeding $60,000 in value:
                      1. permit a supplier to retain any money paid or other consideration provided in excess of an aggregate value of $60,000.

                        1. Repealed
                        Notes
                        • Section 47(1): amended, on , by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).
                        • Section 47(1): amended, on , by section 15(2) of the Consumer Guarantees Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 144).
                        • Section 47(2)(b): amended, on , by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).
                        • Section 47(2)(b)(i): amended, on , by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).
                        • Section 47(2)(b)(ii): amended, on , by section 15(2) of the Consumer Guarantees Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 144).
                        • Section 47(3): amended, on , by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).
                        • Section 47(3): amended, on , by section 15(2) of the Consumer Guarantees Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 144).
                        • Section 47(3)(a): amended, on , by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).
                        • Section 47(3)(b): amended, on , by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).
                        • Section 47(3)(c): amended, on , by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).
                        • Section 47(3)(d): amended, on , by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).
                        • Section 47(4): amended, on , by section 10 of the Disputes Tribunal Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 60).
                        • Section 47(4): amended, on , by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).
                        • Section 47(5): amended, on , by section 340(2) of the Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018 (2018 No 51).
                        • Section 47(5): amended, on , by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).
                        • Section 47(5): amended, on , by section 15(2) of the Consumer Guarantees Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 144).
                        • Section 47(5)(a): amended, on , by section 10 of the Disputes Tribunal Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 60).
                        • Section 47(5)(b): amended, on , by section 10 of the Disputes Tribunal Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 60).
                        • Section 47(5)(c): amended, on , by section 10 of the Disputes Tribunal Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 60).
                        • Section 47(5)(d): amended, on , by section 10 of the Disputes Tribunal Amendment Act 2025 (2025 No 60).
                        • Section 47(6): repealed, on , by section 340(2) of the Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018 (2018 No 51).