NZLS described the case management system as one of the most significant court modernisations
Te Au Reka’s courts portal is a key aspect of the justice system’s transition from manual, paper-based court processes to a streamlined digital one.
The portal creates a single hub where lawyers and clients can file documents, issue payments, monitor case progress, and access court information online. Data need only be inputted once throughout a court process, preventing duplication and bolstering court records’ consistency and accuracy.
The justice ministry published a video this month outlining how the portal operates across five stages of the court process: application, registry review and case creation, judicial preparation and decision making, actioning of judicial decisions, and notification of court users.
Under the new process, applicants submit applications to courts via an online form that requests information such as application type and filing method, which then prompt certain fields to be filled in.
Those who are entering information related to sensitive situations like family violence may choose to halt the application via the portal’s Quick Exit feature. Confidential information may be labelled accordingly.
The portal is able to validate information by reviewing email address formats and residential address details through the New Zealand Post postcode finder; nonetheless, users may override the validation process if necessary. Registry staff are able to access case records through a dashboard. Relevant fields are automatically filled in based on information from applications.
Judges may access the case file and relevant documents via their dedicated workspace. They can make personal annotations and then record orders and directions.
Once a judge has issued a decision, the portal automatically generates related tasks. Users are also notified when decisions are released. Thus, in the Te Au Reka courts portal process judgments, updates, and case information transition efficiently among courts and users.
The Law Society described the Te Au Reka digital case management system as “one of the most significant modernisations of the courts in decades”. The system is set to go live in the Family Court in March 2027; phase 1 is also set to be implemented in the Christchurch and Ashburton District Courts on 23 November.
Te Au Reka is a joint initiative launched by the judiciary and the justice ministry.
