The New Laws

The Trans-Tasman Proceedings Act 2010 was passed into law by the Australian government in March 2010 and by the New Zealand government in August 2010.

This legislation made it more cost effective for creditors in New Zealand to take individuals and business's in Australia to court over outstanding money owed in New Zealand. It also allows for the enforcement of judgments made in New Zealand to be enforced in Australia despite being in separate jurisdictions.

To help streamline this process the new laws allow for lawyers and the individual parties to appear through the use of audio and video links.

What does this mean if you have debts in New Zealand?

If you owe money in New Zealand a creditor can now have:

• Court documents filed in a New Zealand court for an outstanding debt if you are in Australia.
• Court documents served on you in Australia.
• The judgment of the New Zealand court enforced against you in Australia despite you being in a separate jurisdiction.
• Judgments from a New Zealand court, including subpoenas and final money judgments can be enforced against you in Australia as if it were made by and Australian court.

Click Here To view the the new legislation in full