A woman has taken her boyfriend to the Disputes Tribunal after he said he would drive her to the airport before a concert and look after her dogs while she was away — only to go back on his word.
Tribunal documents show the woman was in a relationship with the man for six years prior to the dispute. The documents show that the man "agreed to take her to the airport, stay at her house while she was away and look after her two dogs".
The day before her flight, the woman confirmed the times with the man. However, on the day of the flight, "he did not arrive to collect her and, as a consequence, she missed her flight."
The partner also did not move into the woman's home and the woman had to make other plans for her dogs.
The woman went to the Disputes Tribunal to seek money she spent to travel the following day, as well as funds used on a shuttle to the airport and the cost to put her dogs in a kennel.
The Disputes Tribunal, often called the small claims court, determined the woman would not be able to recoup those losses as she was in a social arrangement with her partner — there was no legally binding relationship.
"Partners, friends and colleagues make social arrangements, but it is unlikely they can be legally enforced unless the parties perform some act that demonstrates an intention that they will be bound by their promises," the ruling said.
"Although a promise was made, it falls short of being a contract. It forms part of the everyday family and domestic relationship agreements that are not enforceable in the Disputes Tribunal."
The woman's claim was dismissed. The New Zealand Herald has reported the pair have since broken up.
SHARE ME