AI is becoming a familiar sight in Tenancy Tribunal proceedings, but the Tribunal’s Top Adjudicator has made it clear there are limits to how it should be used.
New Tribunal guidelines recognise the benefits of AI in helping parties understand legal issues, organise documents and prepare for proceedings, while also highlighting a growing problem: AI can produce large amounts of repetitive, irrelevant or simply incorrect material.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH A SNIPPET VIDEO BREAKING DOWN THE AI GUIDELINES
Submitting that material without properly checking it could have serious consequences. The Tribunal may require documents to be corrected, place less weight on submissions, delay proceedings or, in serious cases, strike out claims. Costs may also be awarded where AI-generated material results in proceedings being frivolous or vexatious under Section 102 of the RTA.
For property managers, the takeaway is not to avoid AI, but to use it carefully. Every fact, legal authority and document still needs human oversight, and the person submitting the case remains responsible for its accuracy.
The Tribunal’s position on AI is ultimately a practical one: use the technology to simplify the case, not complicate it.
That principle is also shaping our new AI-powered Tribunal Assistant. It is being designed to support preparation and organisation rather than replace the property manager’s knowledge, judgement or responsibility.
The Tribunal Assistant is launching on the 31 August 2026, at the AI Roadshow and then around New Zealand.
