What is the Human Rights Review Tribunal? How do I take a case to the Tribunal?

The Human Rights Review Tribunal is the court which deals with cases dealing with New Zealand’s main pieces of human rights law, including the Privacy Act. It can consider any matter raised under the Privacy Act, as long as the OPC has investigated it first.

While it operates in an informal way, it has the same powers as a district court and can make binding decisions, award damages and order parties to pay costs. It can award damages to a maximum of $350,000.

More information about the Tribunal, and its past Privacy Act cases(external link), can be found here(external link). You can contact the Tribunal here(external link).

We've also published guidance on taking a case to the Human Rights Review Tribunal, which you can find here(external link).