0800 COURTS closes at 3:00pm 24 December 2025, for urgent matters (relating to family matter or bail conditions), please call 0800 253 425. 0800 4 FINES closes at 7:00pm, 24 December 2025. Our Contact Centres will reopen at 8:00am on Monday 5 January 2026. National Office (Aitken Street, Wellington) reception will be closed from 3:00pm on Friday 19 December, reopening at 8:00am on Monday 5 January 2026. For more information, see Court and Tribunal hours
The Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act has a number of safeguards to protect the rights of people who need compulsory treatment.
For more information on patient rights, see the Health & Disability Commissioner or the Community Law website.
Health & Disability Commissioner website: The Code and your rights(external link)
Community Law website: Your rights as a mental health patient(external link)
If a patient believes their rights have been breached, or they’re not happy with any aspect of their compulsory assessment and treatment, they can seek the help of a district inspector for mental health. District inspectors are lawyers who are appointed to help patients get information about their treatment and make sure their rights under the Act are upheld.
Patients can ask the court to review their condition before a Compulsory Treatment Order is made.
A patient under the Mental Health Act has the right to be represented by a lawyer and may be able to get legal aid. Their lawyer will help them apply for legal aid.
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