Tenant's Name Suppressed in Rent Arrears Case
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered that the tenant's name and identifying details be kept secret. The tenant must pay back rent arrears through a structured repayment plan over several years.
⚖️ Legal holding
A tenant is required to make regular payments to clear rent arrears under a structured repayment plan.
📖 What the law says
This rule allows a tenant to ask the Tenancy Tribunal to cancel a notice from their landlord ending the tenancy. The tenant must apply within 14 working days if they believe the landlord gave the notice because the tenant used or planned to use a right they have under their tenancy agreement or the law, or because they complained about the landlord.
Plain-English explanation — does not replace advice from a lawyer.
📖 Technical summary
The Tribunal ordered suppression of the tenant's name and details, and established a payment plan for rent arrears.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered suppression of the tenant's name and identifying details. The tenant must pay rent arrears through a structured repayment plan over several years.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5107528
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT [Event location suppressed]
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [Tenancy address suppressed]
ORDER by CONSENT
1. An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the tenant’s name and identifying details.
2. The respondent owes [COMPANY] $15,019.00 (“the debt”). This is rent to 25 February 2025.
3. The respondent must pay rent and the debt as follows:
a. By 750 weekly payments of $416.00, being $396.00 for rent and $20.00 for the debt.
b. A final payment of $415.00, being $396.00 for rent and $19.00 for the debt.
c. Payments will be every Thursday, with the first payment on 27/02/2025 and continuing until 14/07/2039.
d. If the weekly rent changes the payments will adjust to the amount of weekly rent plus the additional $20.00 per week.
4. Payments will be allocated in the following order: rent, rent arrears, and the filing fee.
5. If the tenant fails to pay rent and rent arrears within 2 working days of the due dates:
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a. The tenancy at [Tenancy address suppressed] will terminate and the landlord will have immediate possession of the premises.
b. The balance of the debt will be payable immediately.
Reasons:
6. Both parties attended the hearing. The landlord has applied for termination of the tenancy and rent arrears.
7. At the hearing the parties agreed to the arrangement set out above. In light of this agreement, it is reasonable to order suppression of the tenant’s name and identifying details.
[NAME] 26 February 2025
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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 for the payment of less than $1000 • a final order to undertake work worth 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.
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/
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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].
Reasons:
⚖️ What tends to weigh in cases like this
✅ Tends to be accepted
- The tenant agreed to a structured repayment plan.
- The landlord and tenant reached an agreement on the payment terms.
- The payments will cover both current rent and past rent arrears.
- Adjustments to payments will be made if the weekly rent changes.
Patterns observed in similar cases in this collection — every case is unique.
❓ Frequently asked questions
What did this decision decide?
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered suppression of the tenant's name and identifying details, and established a structured repayment plan for rent arrears.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about the tenant owing rent arrears to the landlord.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided to suppress the tenant's name and details to protect their privacy, and to establish a structured repayment plan to clear the rent arrears.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 54 was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was the need to protect the tenant's privacy while ensuring the rent arrears were paid off.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was for the landlord, as the tenant was ordered to pay rent arrears.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation should expect to make regular payments to clear rent arrears, and their name and details may be suppressed to protect their privacy.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the evidence or documents that mattered.