The bills aim to improve court efficiency, expand access to justice, and ease regulatory burdens
The government has introduced a legislative package aimed at improving court efficiency, increasing access to justice, and reducing regulatory burdens.
The three bills passed their first reading in parliament on 18 February, Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced.
“The 63 changes in these bills will deliver real impacts for everyday New Zealanders,” McKee said in a news release. “The changes will improve court timeliness and efficiency, boost access to justice, and reduce regulatory burdens.”
The Regulatory Systems (Courts) Amendment bill proposes reforms to the coronial process to reduce case backlogs and provide faster results for grieving families. The bill aims to enable coroners to allocate resources more effectively, which is expected to decrease wait times for coronial findings.
“We are enabling coroners' cases to be dealt with more efficiently, which will mean families and whānau will receive coroners’ findings sooner,” McKee said.
Additionally, the bill includes new measures to protect witnesses and informants. It clarifies that information revealing a witness or informant's workplace cannot be disclosed to the defendant, except in specific circumstances. This provision is intended to enhance safety and privacy.
The Regulatory Systems (Tribunals) Amendment bill seeks to improve fairness in the Disputes Tribunal by allowing successful claimants to recover filing fees from the respondent. This change is designed to make the legal process more equitable for those enforcing their rights.
The bill also grants the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority the ability to receive complaints about unlicensed security workers. This measure is expected to strengthen public safety by ensuring that individuals in the security industry hold the necessary credentials.
The third piece of legislation, the Regulatory Systems (Occupational Regulation) Amendment bill, focuses on improving regulatory bodies' efficiency and reducing professionals' compliance costs. One of its key provisions removes the five-year disqualification period for real estate agents who fail to complete continuing professional development requirements.
“No other profession has this disqualification period. It is a disproportionate response that stops people from working in their chosen profession for five years,” McKee said. She also emphasised that the proposed reforms reflect the Government’s commitment to making the justice system more accessible and efficient.
