Hearings & Hearing Venues

Once a review has been agreed to by all parties, a review hearing can be organised.

Review hearings take place in over 25 towns and cities around New Zealand. In the main centres hearings are held at least every week. In the provincial areas reviews usually happen once a month, so where the review hearing is held will affect the date that it can be held on.

You can suggest another date if you want to, but the other parties to your review will also have to agree to it, usually via a a conference call with all of the parties and the reviewer.

Hearing venues

In most cases the venue for the hearing is the DRSL review centre that is closest to where the claimant lives. Hearings can be held in DRSL offices, or other venues that are appropriate such as conference rooms.

 

Here is a list of the venues where review hearings are held. Click on the venue to get the address details and the DRSL office to contact about each venue.

Auckland | Wellington | Christchurch

 
(click here for a full list of all venues and contact details)

Other Options

Hearings will be conducted on 'neutral ground' (i.e. not in an ACC office). Venues other than the ones usually used by DRSL can also be arranged, as long as the reviewer and both parties agree to it. The final decision will be made by the reviewer.

Other venues can include the applicant's home, or in hospital.

Options for Maori and Pacific Island applicants:

Special arrangements for Maori applicants may include:

• holding the hearing on a marae
• conducting the hearing in te reo Maori
• conducting the hearing with some degree of Maori protocol
• providing access to assistance from local pae arahi.

Special arrangements for Pacific Island applicants may include:

• allowing family and elder support
• conducting the hearing in the relevant Pacific language
• holding the hearing at an appropriate community venue
• arranging to have the hearing conducted by a specially appointed Pacific peoples reviewer.

Special needs

Applicants with special needs (such as English as a second language, religious requirements, lack of mobility, and vision or hearing problems) should let their resolution coordinator know their needs as soon as possible, so the coordinator can make arrangements to help.

Delaying a review hearing

• why you can't attend the hearing (for example, because of a family bereavement or illness)
• the earliest date you are available for a new hearing.