Receiving an adjudicator’s determination is a major milestone — but it’s not the finish line. In many cases, the real challenge begins after the decision is issued: ensuring the losing party actually pays or complies.

Under the Construction Contracts Act 2002 (CCA), adjudication is designed to be fast, binding, and practical. But when compliance doesn’t happen voluntarily, the Act provides a clear enforcement pathway to turn a paper decision into actual recovery.

Once the adjudicator has received all submissions and completed any meetings or site visits, the process moves to its most significant stage — the Determination. For many parties, this is the moment where uncertainty turns into clarity. But understanding what the determination actually means, and what must happen afterward, is critical to navigating the final phase of the Construction Contracts Act 2002 (CCA).

Once the Notice of Adjudication has been served and an adjudicator appointed, the process formally begins. What happens next is a tightly structured yet flexible procedure designed to deliver a fair, enforceable decision—usually within 25 to 35 working days.

Once a dispute has crystallised, the next step is to start adjudication properly. This begins with a single but crucial document — the Notice of Adjudication. Getting it right sets the tone for the entire process; getting it wrong can derail the claim before it begins.

Disputes are an inevitable part of construction. Tight timeframes, evolving designs, and payment pressure mean disagreements can quickly arise. Fortunately, New Zealand’s Construction Contracts Act 2002 (CCA) provides a clear and powerful tool to resolve them — adjudication.

​Disputes are part of construction life — but how they’re resolved can make all the difference.

The Construction Contracts Act 2002 (CCA) gives every party in a construction contract a statutory right to adjudication— a fast-track process designed to keep cash flowing and projects moving.

As a Chartered and Registered Quantity Surveyor and practising Adjudicator, I’ve seen how powerful (and misunderstood) this process can be. This five-part series explains adjudication step-by-step — from the first notice to enforcement — offering both clarity and practical insight.

The Series
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The Right to Adjudicate — Your fast-track path to resolving construction disputes

How to Start an Adjudication — The importance of getting the Notice right

Inside the Adjudication Room — How the process actually works

The Adjudicator’s Determination — What it means and what comes next
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From Decision to Dollars — Enforcing adjudicator’s determinations in court

Whether you’re a contractor, consultant, or principal, understanding each stage helps you manage disputes with confidence — and compliance.

​Every construction project begins with excitement—the vision of a new home, a refurbished office, or a large-scale development. But behind that excitement lies a reality I’ve seen many times over nearly two decades in this industry: projects succeed not just because of good design and strong teams, but because of solid contracts.

In my work as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and dispute resolution practitioner, I’ve come across contracts that were little more than handshakes on paper. Inevitably, those projects ran into trouble. On the other hand, where the contract was carefully drafted—with clear scope, timelines, payment terms, and especially a dispute resolution clause—the project was far more likely to stay on track, even when challenges arose.

It’s a quiet Saturday afternoon. The cranes stand still, the excavators are parked, and most of the crew have gone home to their families. Yet, behind the scenes, the project doesn’t really sleep. An email pings into a company’s inbox—a payment claim. Nobody reads it that day. Nobody even sees it until Monday morning.

For many contractors, subcontractors, and clients, that scenario feels harmless. But in the world of construction law, timing is everything. The moment that email landed, the statutory clock had already started ticking. By the time the office opened again, precious days had already been lost.