Free Legal Information for the Bay of Plenty.

Is there a free legal hotline in the Bay of Plenty I can call right now?

Yes — our Legal Hotline is a free legal-information line, live now on 0800 461 100. An AI legal assistant gives you clear legal information on New Zealand law any hour, with no income test, and you can ask as many questions as you like. It's legal information, not legal advice, and it won't create a lawyer-client relationship. These real local services can also help: Baywide Community Law Service (Tauranga 07 571 6812, Whakatāne 07 308 6817) offers free advice to people who qualify, and the Citizens Advice Bureau runs free legal clinics. A paid consultation with a New Zealand lawyer can be booked right on the call if you want one.

I was just arrested in Tauranga. What should I do tonight?

Stay calm, give your name and address if asked, and say as little else as possible — then clearly tell the Police you want to speak to a lawyer and stop talking. In New Zealand you have the right to remain silent and the right to consult and instruct a lawyer without delay, and the Police must tell you about these rights. If you're in custody, ask about the free Police Detention Legal Assistance (PDLA) scheme, which connects you with a duty lawyer for initial advice at no cost. You can also call the Legal Hotline for free legal information on how the criminal process — first appearance at the District Court, bail and what comes next — works; that's information, not legal advice. A paid consultation with a criminal lawyer can be booked right on the call if you want one.

What is the drink-driving limit in New Zealand, and what happens if I'm over it?

Under the Land Transport Act 1998, an adult driver is over the limit at 250 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath, or 50 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood. If you are under 20, the limit is zero. Police can stop you for a breath-screening test, and a positive result leads to an evidential breath or blood test. Being over the adult limit is a criminal charge heard in the District Court — at Tauranga, Rotorua or Whakatāne — and can bring fines, demerit points and disqualification from driving, with heavier penalties for high readings or repeat offences. Refusing an evidential test is itself an offence. Call the Legal Hotline for free information on how this works; a paid consultation with a lawyer can be booked right on the call if you want to defend the charge.

My partner and I have separated — how does care of our children get decided?

Care of children is decided under the Care of Children Act 2004, and the guiding principle is the welfare and best interests of the child. Parents are encouraged to agree on day-to-day care and contact, and free Family Dispute Resolution (mediation) is available to help you reach an agreement. If you can't agree, you can apply to the Family Court — which sits at the Tauranga, Rotorua and Whakatāne District Courts — for a parenting order. Relationship property is dealt with separately under the Property (Relationships) Act 1976. Call the Legal Hotline for free legal information on how the Family Court and these laws work — that's information, not advice on your situation. A paid consultation with a family lawyer can be booked right on the call if you want representation.

I think I was unfairly dismissed from my job — what can I do?

Under the Employment Relations Act 2000 you may be able to raise a personal grievance for unjustified dismissal or for being treated unfairly at work. There's a strict time limit: you generally must raise the grievance with your employer within 90 days of the problem (or of when you became aware of it). If it can't be resolved directly or through free mediation, the dispute goes to the Employment Relations Authority and, on appeal, the Employment Court. The Holidays Act 2003 and Minimum Wage Act 1983 also protect pay and leave. Don't let the 90-day clock run out — call the Legal Hotline for free information on how employment law works; a paid consultation with a lawyer can be booked right on the call if you need one.

Someone owes me money or sold me something faulty — how do I get it sorted in the Bay of Plenty?

For most everyday money and consumer disputes, the Disputes Tribunal is the place to start. It decides claims up to $60,000 quickly and informally, without lawyers, and you can apply online or through the District Court registry at Tauranga, Rotorua or Whakatāne. Larger claims (up to $350,000) go to the District Court itself, and bigger or more complex matters to the High Court. The Limitation Act 2010 generally gives you six years to bring a civil claim, so don't leave it too long. Note that if your problem is a personal injury, ACC usually covers it instead of a lawsuit. Call the Legal Hotline for free information on which path fits your situation.

Can I sue someone who injured me in an accident in New Zealand?

Usually not. New Zealand's Accident Compensation Act 2001 created the ACC scheme, which provides no-fault cover for personal injury — in return, you generally cannot sue the person who injured you for compensatory damages. Instead, you claim from ACC for treatment, rehabilitation and a portion of lost earnings, whether the injury happened at work, on the road, or at home. There are limited exceptions (for example, exemplary damages in rare cases), and ACC decisions can be reviewed and appealed if you disagree. This is a major difference from most other countries. Call the Legal Hotline for free legal information on how ACC works and what your options are — that's information, not legal advice on your claim.

How is the Legal Hotline different from a lawyer or legal aid?

We're a fast first step, not a law firm. Our AI legal assistant gives you general legal information about New Zealand law instantly when you call — but it does not give legal advice on your specific case, is not a substitute for a lawyer, and using it won't create a lawyer-client relationship. We're also not legal aid. Government legal aid and Community Law centres like Baywide offer free or funded help but screen by income and mostly operate in business hours by appointment. A separate paid service — booking a NZ$295 consultation with a New Zealand lawyer — is available right on the call. Either way, you'll get clear legal information fast, any hour, with no income test and as many questions as you like.

How do I get a lawyer in the Bay of Plenty if I can't afford one?

Start with the free and low-cost options. Government legal aid (through the Ministry of Justice) may pay for a lawyer in criminal, family or civil cases if you meet the income test — and if you're arrested, the free Police Detention Legal Assistance duty-lawyer scheme can give you immediate advice. Baywide Community Law Service (Tauranga and Whakatāne) gives free help to those who qualify, and the Citizens Advice Bureau runs free legal clinics. To find and instruct a private lawyer, the New Zealand Law Society's 'getting legal help' pages explain how. The Legal Hotline adds instant, free legal information with no income test — ask as many questions as you like.

Is the law different in the Bay of Plenty compared with the rest of New Zealand?

No. New Zealand has one national legal system with no states or provinces, so the Acts of Parliament — the Crimes Act, the Land Transport Act, the Care of Children Act, the Employment Relations Act and the rest — apply the same way in Tauranga, Rotorua and Whakatāne as they do anywhere else in the country. What's local is the practical side: which courthouse hears your case (the Tauranga, Rotorua or Whakatāne District Court), the local Police and registry, and the free services near you, like Baywide Community Law Service. The Legal Hotline's AI legal assistant is trained on New Zealand law, so the information you get reflects how things actually work where you are.