Abstract:
The construction industry, of which the building industry is part, has long used arbitration to settle disputes arising out of building contracts. In recent years the number of disputes going to arbitration has increased dramatically and at a similar rate, the number of precedent cases at common law has expanded new laws relating to the industry.
Although there exist several highly acclaimed and authoritative writings on arbitration law, (the most notable being Russell on the law of Arbitration, 19th ed.), to date such books have been written for overseas conditions and relate to the law of other countries. At present there is no recognised text in New Zealand which deals specifically with the practice and procedure of arbitration law as it relates to the New Zealand statues and the New Zealand construction industry.