The Disputes Tribunal exists so that ordinary disputes, an unpaid trade invoice, a faulty product, damage someone else caused, don't need a lawyer or a formal courtroom to get resolved. It's run by the Ministry of Justice, deliberately informal, and built for people representing themselves.

Step 1: Check the Disputes Tribunal is the right forum

The Disputes Tribunal hears civil claims up to $60,000. It covers everyday disputes with a clear dollar value: unpaid work, faulty goods, damage to property, a contract that wasn't honoured. It does not hear residential tenancy disputes (bond, rent, damage between landlord and tenant go to the Tenancy Tribunal instead), and it generally won't hear claims that turn on a complex point of law rather than the facts. If your dispute is with a landlord or tenant, or involves a sum above the Tribunal's limit, this isn't the right forum.

Step 2: Try to resolve it directly first

The Disputes Tribunal expects you to have made a genuine attempt to sort the problem out with the other party before you apply, whether that's a phone call, an email, or a formal letter setting out what you want. Keeping a record of that attempt (dates, what was said, any response) strengthens your application and shows the Tribunal you didn't skip straight to a claim.

Step 3: Complete and file your application

Applications can be filed online or on paper through the Ministry of Justice. You'll need to name the other party correctly, state the amount you're claiming, and explain what happened and why you're owed money or another remedy. As with any tribunal process, a clear, factual, chronological account carries more weight than a general complaint, so the same discipline that applies to a court claim applies here even though the process is less formal.

Step 4: Pay the filing fee

The Disputes Tribunal charges a filing fee on a sliding scale based on your claim amount. Current fees are published by the Ministry of Justice and are periodically updated, so check the figure at the time you file rather than relying on an old quote. If you're on a low income, you may be able to apply for a fee reduction.

Step 5: What happens after you file

The Tribunal notifies the other party (the respondent) of your claim and gives them the chance to respond. Many claims are then set down for a hearing, and some Tribunals will first try to resolve the dispute through mediation, either as a separate step or as part of the hearing itself, before moving to a formal decision if agreement isn't reached.

Step 6: Prepare for your hearing

Disputes Tribunal hearings are deliberately informal and are run by a Referee rather than a judge. In most cases, neither party can bring a lawyer to speak on their behalf without the Tribunal's permission, so you present your own case directly. Bring your evidence organised and ready to hand over: receipts, photos, messages, contracts, anything that supports your version of events. The Referee will ask questions of both sides rather than run a formal cross-examination.

Step 7: The decision and enforcement

The Referee's decision (called an order) is legally binding on both parties. Rights of appeal are deliberately narrow: you can apply to the Tribunal itself for a rehearing only in limited circumstances, or seek leave to appeal to the District Court on a genuine point of law, not simply because you disagree with the outcome. If the other party doesn't comply with an order, it can be enforced through the District Court in the same way as a court judgment.

A worked example

Say you bought a used car for $8,000 and it broke down within weeks due to a fault that should have been disclosed under the Consumer Guarantees Act. You'd set out the purchase date and price, the fault and when it appeared, your attempts to get the seller to repair or refund it, and what you're now claiming (a refund, repair costs, or the difference in value). Your evidence would include the sale agreement, any mechanic's report, and your correspondence with the seller showing you tried to resolve it directly first.

This guide is general information, not legal advice, and claim limits, fees, and procedures change over time. LawClaims is a document preparation tool, not a law firm, and no solicitor-client relationship is formed by using it or reading this page. For current limits and fees, check the Ministry of Justice website directly. For anything beyond a straightforward claim, consider free advice services such as Community Law.

NZ Disputes Tribunal: A Complete Step-by-Step Process Guide