From Saturday 14 November, the Ministry of Justice will email Notices of Fines and/or Reparation to people when it has an email address for them, instead of waiting for the post.
The ministry announced the change on 9 November. It has been emailing Driver Licence Stop Orders since early September, and says it will start emailing Collection Contact Centre letters and payment arrangement letters later this year.
The ministry says getting a notice by email does not change what you have to do, such as paying the fine. It just arrives straight away, giving you more time to respond.
What does a genuine email look like?
The ministry says a real email from it will include:
- your name or business name
- your 10-digit personal participant number, called a PPN
- its freephone number, 0800 4 FINES (0800 434 637)
- a PDF attachment.
It will never:
- include a website link claiming to be a payment link
- include any website address to copy and paste into your browser
- ask for your internet banking password or PIN
- ask you to pay with gift cards, iTunes cards or cryptocurrency
- ask you to install software to "help" you pay.
If an email is missing the details it always includes, the ministry says it is not from the Ministry of Justice.
What about texts and phone calls?
The ministry also uses automated texts and calls. Its texts always include your first name, the 0800 434 637 number and your PPN, and never include payment links. It says texts sent before 31 March 2026 may have had payment links, but they no longer do.
Automated calls will show the caller ID 0800 434 637, offer the option to speak to a staff member, and leave a voicemail asking you to call back on that number if you don't answer. They will not ask for personal or banking details.
I've got an email and I'm not sure. What should I do?
Don't click anything in it. Call 0800 4 FINES (0800 434 637), Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm, and ask whether you have a fine. Use the number you find on the ministry's website, not one in the message.
If the fine is real, the ministry's website says you can pay online by Visa, Mastercard, their debit versions or a Prezzy Card, using the PPN on your notice. You can also pay by phone, in person or from overseas, or ask about a payment plan.
The ministry's website carries a standing warning about scam texts and emails claiming to be from it. Our earlier guide explains how to tell whether a parking ticket is real, and the same habit applies here: go to the official site yourself rather than following a link.
What happens if I ignore a real fine?
The consequences can be serious, according to the ministry. If you don't pay or contact it, the court can:
- add an enforcement fee of $133
- take money directly from your bank account, wages or benefit, without your permission
- issue a warrant to seize and sell your car or other possessions
- suspend your driver licence for overdue traffic fines, after a warning letter you have 14 days to respond to.
Unpaid and overdue fines also go on your credit report, which can stop you getting loans, hire purchase or buy now, pay later.
Can unpaid fines stop me travelling?
Yes. The ministry says police can stop you at the airport as you try to leave or come into New Zealand, and give you a chance to pay or set up a payment plan. If you don't, they can arrest you, stop you travelling, take your passport or summons you to court.
If you are on a payment plan and payments stop while you are away, you may be stopped when you come back.
That matters if you are heading overseas to see family over summer. If you have an old speeding or parking fine you are not sure about, call 0800 434 637 and check before you go.
Make sure the ministry has the right email
Because notices will now go to the email address on file, it helps to keep your contact details up to date with the ministry, especially if you have changed jobs, phones or email providers. Check your spam folder too: a genuine notice with a PDF attachment can end up there.
