Employment Court

The Employment Court hears and determines cases relating to employment disputes. These include challenges to determinations of the Employment Relations Authority, questions of interpretation of law, and disputes over strikes and lockouts.

This site does not contain legal advice. The information does not necessarily apply to every case and is subject to the relevant provisions in the Employment Relations Act 2000, the Employment Court Regulations 2000, and practice directions issued by the judges. Some of these sources are referred to on this website. If you want to know more about your employment rights or have an employment relationship problem, please go to Employment New Zealand

“The Judges of Te Kōti Take Mahi o Aotearoa/the Employment Court of New Zealand are acutely aware that the courtroom environment is an unfamiliar and daunting place for many of our Court users.  We have been working to improve access to the Court, including through the provision of on-line resources. 

We have added a video to our website – “Employment Court introduction video”.  It shows a mock Court hearing, explaining the role of the Employment Court, the participants in a hearing and demonstrating some of the processes that often occur, e.g. the swearing in of a witness.  This video, which includes captions, can be found here on the Information & Guidance/What Happens During a Hearing page on the Employment Court website.”


From 3 June 2025 the Employment Court will start publishing its judgments from 24 hours after the delivery date, or the next business day, unless otherwise directed by a judge.  Decisions of public interest may be published earlier, as directed by a judge.

Employment Court cases scheduled for 23 June 2025 to 4 July 2025

Guidelines for remote viewing of Hearings - February 2022

Our Courthouses – practical guidance Information on some practical matters to assist you when you come to Court: location, transport, parking, refreshment options.

Acting Judge Appointed to the Employment Court : Helen Doyle has been appointed as a part-time Acting Judge of the Employment Court of New Zealand ǀ Te Kōti Take Mahi o Aotearoa. Judge Doyle will be based in Christchurch but will sit, as with other judges of the Court, across Aotearoa. Judge Doyle's warrant is for one year, commencing on 27 March 2025.

E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā waka, e ngā hau e whā o te motu, nau mai, piki mai, haere mai, haere mai ki te Kōti Take Mahi.

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