Liability for loss or damage to goods carried within New Zealand is set to rise by 33% under a proposed change to the Carriage of Goods Act 1979 (COGA).
The current liability limit of $1500 per unit will rise to $2000 per unit under the proposed change.
The Bill will introduce a new section 5A in the CGA. Under this section, a supplier who is responsible for arranging delivery of goods to a consumer, guarantees that the goods will be delivered within the time agreed or, if no time has been agreed, within a reasonable time. It is not possible to contract out of the CGA, so shippers / suppliers to consumers should be aware of this proposed change.