# Calculate New Zealand construction payment-claim dates

For a payment claim under the Construction Contracts Act, work out when the payment schedule is due, when payment is due and when you could suspend work, counted in the Act’s working days.

Canonical: https://aroai.com/tools/nz_construction_payment_dates/

## Tool reference

MCP tool ID: `nz_construction_payment_dates`. Availability: Live. Country: New Zealand.

Credit use: 1 credit.

## Input schema

```json
{
  "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
  "type": "object",
  "properties": {
    "claim_date": {
      "type": "string",
      "pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}$",
      "description": "Date the payment claim was served, YYYY-MM-DD."
    },
    "region": {
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "Auckland",
        "Canterbury (South)",
        "Canterbury",
        "Chatham Islands",
        "Hawke's Bay",
        "Marlborough",
        "Nelson",
        "Otago",
        "Southland",
        "Taranaki",
        "Wellington",
        "Westland"
      ],
      "description": "Region for the anniversary day in the working-day count. Choose one of the listed regions."
    },
    "service_evidence": {
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "recorded",
        "not_recorded"
      ],
      "description": "recorded when a service record shows the date, method and recipient; otherwise not_recorded."
    },
    "contract_type": {
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "commercial",
        "residential_occupier"
      ],
      "description": "commercial, or residential_occupier for a contract where the owner lives in the premises. Retention rules differ."
    },
    "contract_payment_terms_status": {
      "type": "object",
      "properties": {
        "schedule": {
          "type": "string",
          "enum": [
            "known",
            "confirmed_silent",
            "unknown"
          ],
          "description": "known: the contract states a payment schedule period (give its days). confirmed_silent: the contract was checked and says nothing. unknown: not checked; the deadline is withheld."
        },
        "due": {
          "type": "string",
          "enum": [
            "known",
            "confirmed_silent",
            "unknown"
          ],
          "description": "known: the contract states a payment due date or period (give its days). confirmed_silent: the contract was checked and says nothing. unknown: not checked; the due date is withheld."
        }
      },
      "required": [
        "schedule",
        "due"
      ],
      "additionalProperties": false,
      "description": "The status of each contract payment term. Every term must be stated."
    },
    "contract_day_count_basis": {
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "act_definition",
        "contract_definition",
        "calendar_days",
        "fixed_date"
      ],
      "description": "How the contract counts days. act_definition: the Act's own day definition (also use this when the contract states no payment terms). contract_definition: the contract defines working or business days itself. calendar_days: the contract counts calendar days. fixed_date: the contract gives a date (supply contract_schedule_date or contract_due_date). Only act_definition and fixed_date are calculated; the others withhold the date."
    },
    "contract_schedule_date": {
      "description": "Fixed date the contract gives for the payment schedule, YYYY-MM-DD. Required when contract_day_count_basis is fixed_date and the schedule term is known; leave out otherwise.",
      "type": "string",
      "pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}$"
    },
    "contract_due_date": {
      "description": "Fixed date the contract gives for payment, YYYY-MM-DD. Required when contract_day_count_basis is fixed_date and the due term is known; leave out otherwise.",
      "type": "string",
      "pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}$"
    },
    "schedule_received_date": {
      "description": "Date the payer's payment schedule was received, YYYY-MM-DD. Decides whether the suspension notice follows CCA s 24 (schedule in time) or s 23 (none in time). Omit if not known; both routes are then shown.",
      "type": "string",
      "pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}$"
    },
    "contract_schedule_working_days": {
      "description": "Payment schedule period in working days. Required when contract_payment_terms_status.schedule is known; leave out otherwise.",
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 1,
      "maximum": 60
    },
    "contract_due_working_days": {
      "description": "Payment due period in working days. Required when contract_payment_terms_status.due is known; leave out otherwise.",
      "type": "integer",
      "minimum": 1,
      "maximum": 60
    },
    "notice_date": {
      "description": "Date the notice of intention to suspend was served, YYYY-MM-DD. Omit if no notice has been served; suspension timing then stays withheld.",
      "type": "string",
      "pattern": "^\\d{4}-\\d{2}-\\d{2}$"
    }
  },
  "required": [
    "claim_date",
    "region",
    "service_evidence",
    "contract_type",
    "contract_payment_terms_status",
    "contract_day_count_basis"
  ],
  "additionalProperties": false
}
```

## Example input

```json
{
  "claim_date": "2026-11-20",
  "region": "Auckland",
  "service_evidence": "recorded",
  "contract_type": "commercial",
  "contract_payment_terms_status": {
    "schedule": "confirmed_silent",
    "due": "confirmed_silent"
  },
  "contract_day_count_basis": "act_definition"
}
```

## Usage notes

- An agreed due date in the contract governs; the 20-working-day default applies only when the contract says nothing.
- Each contract term is marked known, confirmed silent or unknown, and an unknown term gets no deadline.
- Counts working days with the Act’s holiday rules and your region’s anniversary day. General information, not legal advice.