The online portal is set to go live next July
A new online portal will enable the caseflow management system in New Zealand’s courts to go digital, according to Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Courts Minister Nicole McKee.
As per the justice ministry, the new online portal will support case management, judicial decision-making, and court and tribunal management. The digital caseflow management system is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Justice and the judiciary, acting in line with their joint and separate responsibilities.
The digital caseflow management system seeks to transform court administration, improve the courts’ effectiveness, and boost access to justice in New Zealand through the following:
Goldsmith said the new online portal aims to serve as a source of trusted information, improve the courts’ reliability and efficiency, ensure users receive timely and consistent responses regarding their cases, and offer more certainty and less anxiety for the benefit of all involved. He noted that the system currently in place for courts and tribunals uses outdated software, relies on largely paper-based processes that require much manual work, and falls short of the public’s expectations of a modern and streamlined service.
McKee said that the government will commence rolling out the new online portal in July 2026 and will plan the second development phase involving the High Court’s and District Court’s civil and criminal jurisdictions later this year, with the second phase expected to go live in the second half of 2027.
The third and final development phase will focus on the appeals processes, including those involving the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, and will cover the rollout for the Environment Court, Coroners Court, and Disputes Tribunal. The government expects the third phase to start in 2027 and go live in late 2028.
The new digital caseflow management system will “make a significant difference to everyone who participates in New Zealand’s courts and tribunals,” beginning with matters before the Family Court, McKee said in the government’s news release.
