Tenant Ordered to Pay Water Rates and Filing Fees
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $934.64 for unpaid water rates and the filing fee. The tenant did not show up for the hearing, allowing the landlord's claim to succeed.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant must pay the landlord for unpaid water rates and the filing fee if the landlord succeeds in their claim.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord for unpaid water rates and filing fees.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $934.64 for unpaid water rates and the filing fee. The tenant did not attend the hearing, which allowed the landlord's claim to succeed.
📚 Full judgment Official document
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5463484 1
[2026] NZTT 5463484
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT REMOTE LOCATION | TE TARAIPIUNARA RETIHANGA
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [ADDRESS], [POSTCODE]
ORDER
1. [NAME] and [NAME] must pay [COMPANY] $934.64 immediately, as shown in table below:
Description Landlord Tenant Water rates to 22 May 2026 $906.64 Filing fee reimbursement $28.00 Total award $934.64 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $934.64
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing.
2. The tenants did not appear.
3. The absence of a party does not prevent the matter from being heard and determined.
4. The landlord initially sought rent arrears and water rates, but rent is now in credit. The water rates are proven by the invoices and summary provided.
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5463484 2
5. As the landlord has wholly succeeded with the claim, the tenant must reimburse the filing fee.
A Macpherson 18 June 2026
__________________________________________________________________________________ 5463484 3
Please read carefully: Visit justice.govt.nz/tribunals/tenancy/rehearings-appeals for more information on rehearings and appeals.
Rehearings You can apply for a rehearing if you believe that a substantial wrong or miscarriage of justice has happened. For example: • you did not get the letter telling you the date of the hearing, or • the adjudicator improperly admitted or rejected evidence, or • new evidence, relating to the original application, has become available.
You must give reasons and evidence to support your application for a rehearing. A rehearing will not be granted just because you disagree with the decision. You must apply within five working days of the decision using the Application for Rehearing form: justice.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Forms/TT-Application-for-rehearing.pdf
Right of Appeal Both the landlord and the tenant can file an appeal. You should file your appeal at the District Court where the original hearing took place. The cost for an appeal is $260. You must apply within 10 working days after the decision is issued using this Appeal to the District Court form: justice.govt.nz/tribunals/tenancy/rehearings-appeals
Grounds for an appeal You can appeal if you think the decision was wrong, but not because you don’t like the decision. For some cases, there’ll be no right to appeal. For example, you can’t appeal: • against an interim order • a final order, or the failure to make an order, where the amount in dispute on appeal is
less than $1000 • a final order to undertake work, or the failure to make an order, where the value of the
work in dispute on appeal is less than $1000.
Enforcement Where the Tribunal made an order about money or property this is called a civil debt. The Ministry of Justice Collections Team can assist with enforcing civil debt. You can contact the collections team on [PHONE] or go to justice.govt.nz/fines/civil-debt for forms and information.
Notice to a party ordered to pay money or vacate premises, etc. Failure to comply with any order may result in substantial additional costs for enforcement. It may also involve being ordered to appear in the District Court for an examination of your means or seizure of your property.
If you require further help or information regarding this matter, visit tenancy.govt.nz/disputes/enforcing- decisions or phone Tenancy Services on [PHONE].
Mēna ka hiahia koe ki ētahi atu awhina, kōrero ranei mo tēnei take, haere ki tenei ipurangi tenancy.govt.nz/disputes/enforcing-decisions, waea atu ki Ratonga Takirua ma runga [PHONE] ranei.
A manaomia nisi faamatalaga poo se fesoasoani, e uiga i lau mataupu, asiasi ifo le matou aupega tafailagi: tenancy.govt.nz/disputes/enforcing-decisions, pe fesootai mai le Tenancy Services i le numera [PHONE].
https://www.justice.govt.nz/tribunals/tenancy/rehearings-appeals https://www.justice.govt.nz/assets/Documents/Forms/TT-Application-for-rehearing.pdf https://www.justice.govt.nz/tribunals/tenancy/rehearings-appeals/ https://www.justice.govt.nz/fines/about-civil-debt/ https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/disputes/enforcing-decisions https://www.tenancy.govt.nz/disputes/enforcing-decisions http://www.tenancy.govt.nz/disputes/enforcing-decisions/
Reasons:
⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this
✅ Tends to be accepted
- The landlord proved the water rates were owed by providing invoices and a summary.
- The landlord was reimbursed the filing fee because they won their claim completely.
- The tribunal could still hear and decide the case even though the tenants did not show up.
❌ Tends to be rejected
- The landlord's claim for unpaid rent was not accepted because the rent account was in credit.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay the landlord $934.64 for unpaid water rates and the filing fee.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about unpaid water rates and the landlord's request for the filing fee to be reimbursed.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided in favour of the landlord because the tenant did not appear at the hearing, allowing the landlord's claim to succeed.
Which laws or rules were applied?
No specific laws or rules were mentioned in the judgment.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The fact that the tenant did not appear at the hearing was the most important factor in the decision.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the landlord who brought the case.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should ensure they attend all hearings to contest claims made against them.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the evidence or documents that mattered.