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139: Power of court to order compliance
or “The court can tell people to follow the rules or stop doing something wrong to make sure they obey the law.”
You could also call this:

“Rules about how the court can make and enforce orders to fix problems at work”

The court can make a compliance order in several ways. You or another party in the case can ask for it, or sometimes the court can do it on its own. If the order affects someone who isn’t part of the case, the court must let them have a say first.

If you’re told to obey an order, you can ask the court for more time to do it. The court can add conditions to the order, including what the person who asked for it must do. The order might last until a certain time or until something specific happens.

After making an order, the court might pause the case to give you time to follow it. If you don’t follow the order, the court can do different things. It might stop or dismiss your case if you started it, or ignore your defence if you’re defending yourself. The court could even send you to jail for up to 3 months, fine you up to $40,000, or take control of your property.

If you’re fined, the court might tell you to pay some or all of the fine to the employee involved in the case.

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Next up: 140AA: Sanctions for breaches without compliance order

or “The court can punish people who break work rules without first giving them a warning.”
Next

Part 9 Personal grievances, disputes, and enforcement
Compliance orders

140Further provisions relating to compliance order by court

  1. The power given to the court by section 139(2) may be exercised by the court—

  2. on the application of any party to the proceedings; or
    1. except where the proceedings are commenced under section 139(4), of its own motion.

      1. Before exercising its power under section 139(2) in relation to a person who is not a party to the proceedings, the court must give that person an opportunity to appear or be represented before the court.

      2. Any time specified by the court under section 139 may from time to time be extended by the court on the application of the person who is required to obey the order.

      3. A compliance order of the kind described in section 139(2)—

      4. may be made subject to such terms and conditions as the court thinks fit (including conditions as to the actions of the applicant); and
        1. may be expressed to continue in force until a specified time or the happening of a specified event.

          1. Where the court makes a compliance order of the kind described in section 139(2), it may then adjourn the proceedings, without imposing any penalty or fine or making a final determination, to enable the compliance order to be complied with while the proceedings are adjourned.

          2. Where any person fails to comply with a compliance order made under section 139, or where the court, on an application under section 138(6), is satisfied that any person has failed to comply with a compliance order made under section 137, the court may do 1 or more of the following things:

          3. if the person in default is a plaintiff, order that the proceedings be stayed or dismissed as to the whole or any part of the relief claimed by the plaintiff in the proceedings:
            1. if the person in default is a defendant, order that the defendant's defence be struck out and that judgment be sealed accordingly:
              1. order that the person in default be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months:
                1. order that the person in default be fined a sum not exceeding $40,000:
                  1. order that the property of the person in default be sequestered.

                    1. An order under subsection (6)(d) may direct that the whole or any part of the fine must be paid to the employee concerned.

                    Compare
                    • 1991 No 22 s 56(3)–(7)
                    Notes
                    • Section 140(7): inserted, on , by section 17 of the Employment Relations Amendment Act 2016 (2016 No 9).