New Zealand woman sues boyfriend for not taking her to airport

A woman in New Zealand sued her boyfriend – and now ex – for failing to take her to the airport, which subsequently resulted in missing her flight and a concert, but had her case thrown out.

The woman told the Disputes Tribunal, better known as the small claims court, that her boyfriend of over six years had breached a verbal agreement, where he was supposed to take her to the airport and stay at her house to look after both her dogs while she was away to attend a concert with her friends.

The man was supposed to pick her up between 10am and 10.15am on the day of her flight but failed to show up.

The woman told the tribunal that because of his no-show, she had to buy another plane ticket the next day, a shuttle to the airport and put her dogs in a kennel.

The details of the case were released on June 20, with the names of the couple redacted.

Tribunal referee Krysia Cowie, however, said in her decision dated March 2024 that an agreement is only enforceable when there is an intention to create a legally binding contract.

Ms Cowie said: “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.”

“When friends fail to keep their promises, the other person may suffer a financial consequence but it may be that they cannot be compensated for that loss,” she added.

Ms Cowie also found that the agreement was made as any couple would do in an intimate relationship, and did not indicate that the woman’s boyfriend had to follow through with his promise. “Although a promise was made, it falls short of being a contract.”

The man had earlier sent an e-mail stating that he would not attend the tribunal hearing and also did not respond to a follow-up call from the tribunal referee.

The case was dismissed in court.