The local body representing big record labels claims to have spent around $250,000 chasing alleged music pirates but so far has hauled only 12 people to the Copyright Tribunal.
The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (Rianz) scored a win at the tribunal this week, with a Telecom customer who pirated music being ordered to pay it $616.57.
The decision was the first released by the tribunal since the introduction of file-sharing laws in September 2011 that allows rights holders - like movie studios or music companies - to issue notices to users believed to be illegally downloading or uploading copyrighted content.
After a third notice, rights holders can bring a case before the tribunal, which can order an offender to pay up to $15,000.
Rianz says it has sent out around 6000 notices to alleged pirates, for which the music industry body must pay a $25 fee each for internet companies to send on to their customers.