Appeals to the District Court

When you can appeal

A community housing provider (CHP) may appeal to the District Court in relation to our decisions affecting registration, such as refusing registration or suspending or revoking registration, or refusing to revoke registration where this has been requested by the CHP.

Any appeal must be within 28 days of the decision which is the subject of the appeal.

How to appeal

The District Court Act 2016 and the District Court Rules 2014 apply to an appeal against our decisions, with any necessary modification that the Court thinks fit.

District Court Act 2016 (New Zealand Legislation)(external link)

District Court Rules 2014 (New Zealand Legislation)(external link)

For further information, read Part 18 of the District Court Rules

Part 18 of the District Court Rules (New Zealand Legislation)(external link)

You can make an appeal by filing a Notice of Appeal in the District Court in Wellington, or another District Court with agreement from us, within 28 days of the decision that’s being appealed. A copy of the Notice to Appeal must be provided to the Head of the Community Housing Regulatory Authority.

District Court decision

The District Court can decide whether to hold the hearing in private or public and whether to order certain parts of the proceedings not to be made public.

If the Court allows the appeal, deciding in favour of the CHP, then it can modify or reverse our decision, make further orders or return the matter to us for further consideration and decision. 

Effect of appeal

The act of commencing an appeal doesn’t put the decision appealed against on hold, unless the District Court orders otherwise.