Tenant's Name Suppressed to Protect Dependent Children - Tenancy Tribunal Decision
📌 In brief
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $1,735.34 in rent arrears. The tenant's name and identifying details were suppressed to protect their dependent children.
⚖️ Legal holding
Section 95A(4) of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 allows the Tribunal to suppress names and identifying details of parties in certain circumstances.
📖 Technical summary
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered suppression of the tenant's name and identifying details due to potential impact on dependent children.
📜 Headnote Official document
The Tenancy Tribunal ordered the tenant to pay $1,735.34 in rent arrears and suppressed the tenant's name and identifying details due to potential impact on dependent children.
📚 Full judgment Official document
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[2025] NZTT 5150172
TENANCY TRIBUNAL AT [Event location suppressed]
APPLICANT: [redacted]
Landlord
RESPONDENT: [redacted]
Tenant
TENANCY ADDRESS: [Tenancy address suppressed]
ORDER
1. An application for suppression has been made in this case, and the Tribunal orders suppression of the tenant name and identifying details.
2. [The tenant/s] must pay [COMPANY] $1,735.34 immediately, being rent arrears to 4 March 2025 as shown in the table below:
Description Landlord Tenant Rent arrears to 4.3.25 $1,735.34 Total award $1,735.34 Total payable by Tenant to Landlord $1,735.34
Reasons:
1. The landlord attended the hearing by remote teleconference. The tenant was not called due to his current custodial status.
2. The landlord has applied for rent arrears and has provided rent records which prove the amount owing.
3. The landlord also provided an updated rent ledger prior to the hearing today. Having sighted this updated evidence I am satisfied that the tenant is responsible for this debt.
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4. The claim for rent arrears is proven.
5. Section 95A (4) of the Act allows the Tribunal, on the application of any party to the proceedings, or on its own initiative, having regard to the interest of the parties and the public interest, to order that all or part of the evidence, or the name or any identifying particulars of any witnesses or party, not be published.
6. The impact on publication of name could potentially impact the tenant’s dependent children. Accordingly, I find that it is appropriate that name suppression is ordered for the tenant’s name and identifying details.
[NAME] 03 March 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 landlord proved the amount of rent owing by providing rent records.
- The landlord submitted an updated rent ledger before the hearing, which satisfied the Tribunal about the debt.
- The Tribunal found that publishing the tenant's name could harm their dependent children.
- The Tribunal decided that name suppression was appropriate for the tenant's name and identifying details.
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 $1,735.34 in rent arrears and suppressed the tenant's name and identifying details.
What was the dispute about?
The dispute was about unpaid rent arrears.
How did the court decide, and why?
The court decided to order the tenant to pay the rent arrears and to suppress the tenant's name and identifying details to protect the tenant's dependent children.
Which laws or rules were applied?
The Residential Tenancies Act 1986, section 95A(4) was applied.
What was the argument that mattered most?
The argument that mattered most was the potential impact on the tenant's dependent children if the tenant's name and identifying details were published.
Was the decision for or against the person who brought the case?
The decision was against the tenant who brought the case, as they were ordered to pay the rent arrears.
What does this mean for someone in a similar situation?
Someone in a similar situation might have their name and identifying details suppressed if there is a risk to their dependent children.
What evidence or documents mattered?
The judgment does not specify the exact evidence or documents that mattered.