Public Trustee Act 1978

Where in any action in the court (whether commenced before or after the commencement of this Act) by a person for damages for personal injury sustained by the person it appears to the court that that person (the plaintiff) is a person in respect of whom a protection order might be made under section 65, the court may, subject to subsection (2), make such a protection order.

The court may make such protection order of its own motion or on the application of any of the following—

the plaintiff;

the plaintiff’s litigation guardian;

the spouse of the plaintiff;

the public trustee;

any other person who appears to the court to have a proper interest in making such application.

The court shall, before making a protection order under this section, of its own motion or on the application of any person other than the plaintiff, cause notice of its intention to consider the making of a protection order to be given personally to the plaintiff, unless the court in any special case otherwise directs.

The person on whose application a protection order has been made under this section or, if the protection order has been made by the court of its own motion, the person having the carriage of the action, shall within 24 hours after the making of the protection order serve on the public trustee notice in writing of the making of the protection order.

In this section—court includes the District Court.