🇳🇿 Free Legal Help in New Zealand

Employment New Zealand (MBIE)

Advice and free mediation for employment problems — unpaid wages, holidays, unjustified dismissal. Unresolved cases go to the Employment Relations Authority.

Legal basis Employment Relations Act 2000

How to reach Get advice and request free mediation from Employment NZ (0800 20 90 20); a personal grievance (e.g., unjustified dismissal) must usually be raised within 90 days.

Call

0800 20 90 20

Online

www.employment.govt.nz

Languages

English

Cost

Free

Who it's for: Employees, including migrant workers.

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Tenancy Services (MBIE)

Tenancy rights, bond lodgement and free mediation; unresolved disputes go to the Tenancy Tribunal.

Legal basis Residential Tenancies Act 1986

How to reach Use Tenancy Services for bond and dispute help; request free mediation, and file at the Tenancy Tribunal for bond, rent or repair disputes. Keep your tenancy agreement.

Online

www.tenancy.govt.nz

Languages

English

Cost

Low fee

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Consumer rights under the Consumer Guarantees and Fair Trading Acts; small money disputes go to the Disputes Tribunal.

Legal basis Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 and Fair Trading Act 1986

How to reach Report a trader to the Commerce Commission or Consumer Protection (MBIE); for a money claim up to the limit, file at the Disputes Tribunal (disputestribunal.govt.nz).

Online

comcom.govt.nz

Languages

English

Cost

Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Income tax, GST and Working for Families; filing, refunds and disputes, plus child-support administration.

Legal basis Tax Administration Act 1994

How to reach Manage tax and entitlements in myIR; dispute an assessment through IRD's disputes process within the deadline.

Online

www.ird.govt.nz

Languages

English

Cost

Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

New Zealand's independent online-safety service — free help and reporting for scams, fraud, hacking and online abuse; serious fraud and cybercrime are also reported to the Police.

Legal basis Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015

How to reach Report a scam or online harm to Netsafe (netsafe.org.nz) and contact your bank immediately; report the crime to Police (105, or 111 if urgent). Consumer Protection (MBIE) runs a scam-awareness guide.

Online

www.netsafe.org.nz

Languages

English

Cost

Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Complaints about how an agency handles your personal information — refused access, misuse, breaches — under the Privacy Act.

Legal basis Privacy Act 2020

How to reach Ask the agency for your information or to fix it first; if unresolved, complain to the Privacy Commissioner.

Online

www.privacy.org.nz

Languages

English

Cost

Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Independent complaints about police conduct; dial 111 for emergencies and 105 to report non-emergencies.

Legal basis Independent Police Conduct Authority Act 1988

How to reach Complain about police conduct to the IPCA (or the Police, which the IPCA oversees); dial 111 in an emergency, 105 for non-emergencies.

Call

111 (emergency)

Online

www.ipca.govt.nz

Languages

English

Cost

Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Immigration New Zealand (MBIE)

Visas, residence and work rights; decisions can be appealed to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal.

Legal basis Immigration Act 2009

How to reach Apply for and manage visas online with Immigration NZ; a declined application may be appealed to the Immigration and Protection Tribunal within the deadline.

Online

www.immigration.govt.nz

Languages

English

Cost

Low fee

Who it's for: Visa holders and applicants.

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Family Court (Ministry of Justice)

Care of children (custody), separation and dissolution, division of relationship property and protection orders; the free Family Legal Advice Service helps lower-income people early on.

Legal basis Care of Children Act 2004 and the Family Proceedings Act 1980

How to reach Apply to the Family Court via justice.govt.nz; try Family Dispute Resolution (mediation) and the free Family Legal Advice Service (FLAS) first. A dissolution needs 2 years' separation.

Online

www.justice.govt.nz/family

Languages

English

Cost

Low fee

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Free, independent complaints about a health or disability service under the Code of Consumers' Rights; a free advocacy service can help you.

Legal basis Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994

How to reach Raise it with the provider first if you can; otherwise complain free to the HDC, and use its free advocacy service for support.

Online

www.hdc.org.nz/making-a-complaint

Languages

English

Cost

Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Free help with discrimination in work, services and housing; Community Law Centres and Citizens Advice Bureaux give free legal advice on any issue.

Legal basis Human Rights Act 1993

How to reach Contact the Human Rights Commission about discrimination (free, with a dispute-resolution service); for free legal advice on anything, visit a Community Law Centre or Citizens Advice Bureau.

Online

www.hrc.co.nz

Languages

English

Cost

Free

Who it's for: Anyone facing discrimination or needing free legal advice.

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source