File and Pay NZ — How to Pay Court Enforcement Fees for Disputes Tribunal Orders

Civil enforcement applications that carry a filing fee need payment. If you pay separately through the Ministry of Justice File and Pay portal, include the receipt with the application you submit. For some application types, File and Pay also accepts the application online. Understanding which filing option you selected prevents common delays.

What File and Pay Actually Does

File and Pay is an online portal hosted on the Courts of New Zealand web infrastructure. You select the fee category, enter your case details, and pay with a debit or credit card. Depending on the application and filing option selected, the portal can accept the application as well as payment, or record payment only. The system generates a PDF fee receipt.

That's it. File and Pay does not:

• Auto-populate any court forms
• File every type of enforcement application online; check the filing instructions for the specific application
• Confirm that an application has been received or processed when you chose a fee-only payment

If you selected a fee-only payment, the receipt confirms payment and the application still needs to reach the District Court separately. When online filing is available for your application, submit it through the portal.

The Filing Workflow

Step 1: Complete your enforcement form. Download the relevant form from the Ministry of Justice website — Application for an Attachment Order, Application for Warrant to Seize Property, Garnishee Application (Form 70), or whichever tool you're using. Fill it in completely.

Step 2: Pay on File and Pay. Go to the portal, select the correct fee category and amount. Current enforcement fees (effective 1 July 2026):

• Agreed Attachment Order: NZ$41
• Standard Attachment Order: NZ$69
• Filing New Address: NZ$69
• Filing Financial Statement: NZ$89
• Assessment of Financial Means: NZ$109
• Financial Assessment Hearing: NZ$178 (creditor serves) or NZ$247 (bailiff serves)
• Warrant to Seize Property: NZ$273
• Charging Order: NZ$345
• Garnishee Order: NZ$345

Pay with your card. Save the PDF receipt — print it or save it electronically depending on how you plan to submit your application.

Step 3: Submit the form and receipt if required. Follow the filing instructions for your application. If you selected a fee-only payment, include the receipt when submitting the application separately. Available channels include:

• File and Pay: Use the portal to file and pay when that option is available for your application.
• District Court counter: Walk into any District Court registry counter with the printed form. They accept EFTPOS, credit card, and cash for fees paid at the counter. If you've already paid online, bring the receipt.
• Post: Mail the printed form with the printed receipt to the relevant District Court Collections registry.
• Email: Some registries accept emailed applications — check with your local District Court Collections inbox.

Common Mistakes

Paying the fee but not submitting the form. If you select a fee-only payment, the File and Pay confirmation proves payment only. You still need to submit the application separately to the Collections Unit.

Wrong fee amount. If you pay NZ$69 for what you thought was a standard attachment order but you're actually filing a financial statement request (NZ$89), the Collections Unit will reject the application until the balance is paid. Double-check the fee schedule before paying.

Using the original Disputes Tribunal claim portal. The online portal for filing original Disputes Tribunal claims is a completely separate system. It does not accept enforcement applications. Enforcement goes through File and Pay (for fees) plus the District Court Collections Unit (for the application itself).

Paying at the counter after paying online. If you paid on File and Pay and then also pay at the District Court counter because the clerk asks for fees, you've double-paid. Bring the receipt. If you prefer simplicity, just pay at the counter and skip File and Pay entirely.

When to Skip File and Pay

If you live near a District Court and prefer handling everything in one visit, paying at the counter is perfectly fine. The counter accepts EFTPOS, credit card, and cash. You hand in the form, pay the fee, get a receipt, and your application enters the system on the spot.

File and Pay is most useful when you're submitting by post or email and can't visit a counter, or when the portal offers online filing for your application. It's also convenient for paying fees outside business hours — the portal is available 24/7.

For the complete fee schedule, form directory, and step-by-step filing instructions for each enforcement tool, the enforcement guide lays out the paperwork and payment sequence so nothing gets missed.

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