E nga mana,
E nga reo,
E nga waka,
E nga hau e wha o te motu,
Nau mai, piki mai, haere mai,
Haere mai ki Te Kooti Take ā-mahi

This website provides an overview of the Employment Court and its operation. It will assist practitioners by providing information about the processes of the Employment Court and details of how to access judgments.

The site does not contain legal advice. If you want to know more about your employment rights or have an employment relationship problem please go to Department of Labour

The Employment Court of New Zealand was created by the Employment Contracts Act 1991, and has continued under the Employment Relations Act 2000 in an amended form. It has a long heritage, with a New Zealand specialist industrial relations court existing in various forms since 1894.

The Court exists to hear and determine cases relating to employment disputes, particularly challenges to determinations of the Employment Relations Authority, questions of interpretation of law, and has first-instance jurisdiction over matters such as strikes and lockouts.

The Employment Court has offices and courts located in Auckland and Wellington, plus a court in Christchurch. In certain instances the Court will travel to hear cases in other locations.

There are four permanent Judges headed by the Chief Judge. Usually one Judge alone presides. However where cases raise important questions, the Chief Judge may elect to have a full court with at least three Judges sitting.

The Employment Court is a court of record, exercising a jurisdiction conferred on it by statute, some of it transferred from the High Court. It is currently administered by the Ministry of Justice.