---
title: "Draft or audit a New Zealand-seat arbitration clause under the Arbitration Act 1996"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/practice/arbitration-and-alternative-dispute-resolution/audit-the-arbitration-clause-and-draft-a-workable-replacement/new-zealand"
type: "task_jurisdiction_version"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "A6-T1-R1-NZ"
practice_area: "Arbitration & Alternative Dispute Resolution"
tier: "yellow"
lawyer_review: "required"
jurisdictions: ["NZ"]
last_reviewed: "2026-09-23"
---

# Draft or audit a New Zealand-seat arbitration clause under the Arbitration Act 1996

> Extract seat, governing law, number of arbitrators, language and any opt-in or opt-out of Schedule 2 into a clause table.

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/practice/arbitration-and-alternative-dispute-resolution/audit-the-arbitration-clause-and-draft-a-workable-replacement/new-zealand  
Last reviewed: 2026-09-23

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Practice area | [Arbitration & Alternative Dispute Resolution](https://ailawframework.com/practice/arbitration-and-alternative-dispute-resolution.md) |
| Human involvement | Yellow: Lawyer and AI draft together |
| How AI is used | Extract seat, governing law, number of arbitrators, language and any opt-in or opt-out of Schedule 2 into a clause table. |
| What the lawyer must review | Apply Schedule 1 of the Arbitration Act 1996 Check Schedule 2: opt-in for international, opt-out for other NZ-seat arbitrations Do not use Australian Act defaults Check each article number |
| Written for | New Zealand |
| Applies to | [Audit the arbitration clause and draft a workable replacement](https://ailawframework.com/practice/arbitration-and-alternative-dispute-resolution/audit-the-arbitration-clause-and-draft-a-workable-replacement.md) |

## Checking plan

- What the AI does: Extract seat, governing law, number of arbitrators, language and any opt-in or opt-out of Schedule 2 into a clause table.
- Basis: Checked against the linked sources on 23 September 2026. Confirm the current instrument before reliance.

## Notes

- Section 5(f) and Schedule 3 give effect to the New York Convention. Do not invent a separate New Zealand International Arbitration Act.

## Sources

- [Arbitration Act 1996](https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1996/99/en/latest/) (checked 2026-09-23)
- [Courts of New Zealand: GenAI guidelines — Lawyers (7 December 2023)](https://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/assets/6-Going-to-Court/practice-directions/practice-guidelines/all-benches/20231207-GenAI-Guidelines-Lawyers.pdf) (checked 2026-09-23)

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*