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Employment Relations Act 2000

Personal grievances, disputes, and enforcement - Penalties

134A: Penalty for obstructing or delaying Authority investigation

You could also call this:

“You might have to pay money if you get in the way of people looking into work problems.”

If you obstruct or delay an investigation by the Employment Relations Authority without a good reason, you can be penalised. This includes not showing up when you’re required to attend as a party to an investigation.

The Authority can decide to give you a penalty on its own, or if another party involved in the investigation asks for it.

This law applies to everyone, so it’s important to cooperate with Authority investigations when you’re involved in one.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM3640696.

Topics:
Work and jobs > Worker rights
Crime and justice > Courts and legal help
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134: Penalties for breach of employment agreement, or

“If you break the rules in your work agreement or help someone else break them, you might have to pay money as a punishment.”

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Part 9 Personal grievances, disputes, and enforcement
Penalties

134APenalty for obstructing or delaying Authority investigation

  1. Every person is liable to a penalty under this Act who, without sufficient cause, obstructs or delays an Authority investigation, including failing to attend as a party before an Authority investigation (if required).

  2. The power to award a penalty under subsection (1) may be exercised by the Authority—

  3. of its own motion; or
    1. on the application of any party to the investigation.

      Notes
      • Section 134A: inserted, on , by section 17 of the Employment Relations Amendment Act 2010 (2010 No 125).