New Zealand updated its 1908 Arbitration Act as of July 1997. The new law makes disputes concerning any agreements subject to arbitration if the parties have provided for arbitration in the agreement, unless such an agreement is contrary to public policy or otherwise prohibited by law. The contractual nature of arbitration is further stressed by the very limited power given to courts under the law to exercise jurisdiction over contracts containing arbitration agreements. The law provides that courts do not have subject matter jurisdiction over arbitrable disputes unless the agreement is determined to be null and void or inoperable for another reason, or if it is determined that there is no real dispute between the parties.
New Zealand Updates Arbitration Act
This article was edited and reviewed by FindLaw Attorney Writers | Last reviewed March 26, 2008
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