42-day notice (New Zealand)
A written notice under the New Zealand Residential Tenancies Act 1986 by which a landlord can end a periodic tenancy on one of the short-notice statutory grounds, giving the tenant at least 42 days to vacate.
The 42-day notice is the shorter-period termination notice under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 that landlords can serve on a periodic tenant in a narrow set of circumstances. The qualifying grounds include the property being sold with a requirement for vacant possession under an unconditional sale agreement, and the landlord or an employee of the landlord being required to live in the property.
Like the 90-day notice, the 42-day notice must be in writing, signed, and state the specific ground being relied upon. The tenant may apply to the Tenancy Tribunal to challenge a notice they believe is invalid or has been used on a ground that does not actually apply.
Before the 2020 amendments to the Act, landlords could rely on a 90-day “without cause” notice instead. That option no longer exists — termination of a periodic tenancy by the landlord now always requires a cited ground from the statutory list.
Primary source
Tenancy Services — Giving notice to end a tenancy →Last reviewed 16 April 2026. Rates, thresholds, and deadlines change — always verify against the primary source before making decisions.