Courts and Tribunals remain an essential service throughout all COVID-19 restrictions but may be operating differently. The current COVID-19 Omicron outbreak means some courts and tribunals are experiencing staff shortages. This may impact on court operations through reduced services, and customer counter hours may differ from those published. For more detailed information about a specific court or tribunal, please call 0800 COURTS (0800 268 787)
These tribunals, authorities and committees are a forum for resolving disputes over facts and/or law and assessing specific cases. They also work as regulatory bodies, issuing licences and certificates. Each body is established by legislation which also sets out its functions, powers and the extent of its authority or jurisdiction.
These authorities issue licences and certificates for secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers, security guards and private investigators. They also hear appeals against local alcohol licence decisions.
You can appeal to the Authority to review a decision made by a district licensing committee and other matters related to alcohol licencing. The Authority doesn't issue alcohol licences and manager certificates, but it keeps a list of them.
You can ask the Human Rights Review Tribunal to review decisions by the Human Rights Commission, Privacy Commissioner and Health and Disability Commissioner.
You can appeal ACC review decisions with the Accident Compensation Appeals District Court Registry. If the decision was under the repealed 1982 Act, it's reviewed by the Accident Compensation Appeal Authority.
The Canterbury Earthquakes Insurance Tribunal (the Tribunal) provides Canterbury homeowners with a fair, speedy, flexible and cost-effective way to resolve their long-standing claims with insurers (including Southern Response) and the Earthquake Commission (EQC).
The Copyright Tribunal hears disputes about copyright licensing agreements and applications about illegal uploading and downloading of copyrighted work.
The Immigration & Protection Tribunal hears appeals on resident visas, deportation and refugee or protected person claims. The Immigration Advisers Complaints & Disciplinary Tribunal deals with complaints against licensed immigration advisers.
The Land Valuation Tribunal deals with objections to property valuations. The Birdlings Flat Land Title Commissioner makes land title decisions about Birdlings Flat in Canterbury.
The Legal Complaints Review Officer reviews decisions made by Standards Committees. On review, the Review Officer has all of the powers of a Standards Committee. The Lawyers & Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal hears and determines disciplinary charges against lawyers and conveyancers.
The Legal Aid Tribunal reviews decisions the Legal Services Commissioner makes about who gets legal aid. The Review Authority reviews decisions the Secretary for Justice makes about who can be a legal aid provider.
The Social Security Appeal Authority hears appeals about the decisions of the Ministry of Social Development, the Benefits Review Committee, and the Secretary for War Pensions.
Students can appeal Ministry of Social Development decisions on student allowances with the Student Allowance Appeal Authority. International students previously made complaints to the International Education Appeal Authority.
The Waitangi Tribunal makes recommendations on claims brought by Māori relating to Crown actions which breach the promises made in the Treaty of Waitangi.