Rongotai Investments Ltd v Land Valuation Tribunal

Rongotai Investments Ltd and Rongotai Estates Ltd brought an application for interim relief under s 15 of the Judicial Review Procedure Act 2016 to prevent the Land Valuation Tribunal from proceeding with hearings on objections to rating valuations. The application was brought as part of judicial review proceedings challenging the Tribunal's processes and determinations. The central complaints were that the Tribunal had shown apparent bias and had pre-determined the outcome of the hearings. The application was dismissed. The Court held that there was a position to preserve but that interim relief should not be granted because the nature and strength of the challenge did not warrant the disruption of the hearings to the other parties, and because any concerns about the Tribunal's conduct could be addressed in the judicial review proceedings. The Court also noted that the Court would have the ability to grant effective relief if the judicial review claims were made out, and that there was no irretrievable prejudice to the applicants if the hearings were allowed to continue. The Court reserved the question of costs and directed that the proceedings be subject to joint case management.