Data shows courts have disposed of over 80 percent of cases within expected timeframes
New Zealand’s Ministry of Justice has highlighted that this year’s budget includes a total investment of $245.5m in the courts, justice system, and legal aid system over the next four years.
“An efficient court system that delivers timely justice is an important part of the Government’s plan to restore law and order,” said Nicole McKee, courts minister, in a news release from the government. “Through Budget 2025 we are making sure we keep our foot on the pedal.”
“This funding will support the ongoing operation of specialist courts, tribunals, the District Court, senior courts, the Coroners Court, and the legal aid system,” added Paul Goldsmith, justice minister, in the government’s news release.
The funding seeks to increase judicial capacity, including by appointing two permanent High Court judges, a chief community magistrate, and additional community magistrates, according to a news release from the justice ministry.
The ministry said the investment aims to improve court timeliness, help court users get the proper support they need, and ensure the judiciary can access specialist reports and other information and court-ordered services it requires to move forward with cases.
The ministry added that the funding seeks to tackle the pressures facing the legal aid system and ensure access to justice for New Zealanders.
“While there has been progress, it’s really important that we keep things moving,” Goldsmith said in the government’s news release. “This funding will do exactly that.”
The ministry noted that the Judicature (Timeliness) Legislation Amendment Bill is an omnibus bill introducing changes to the Senior Courts Act 2016, the Criminal Procedure Act 2011, and the Coroners Act 2006.
According to the ministry, the legislative amendments aim to:
Changes to the Senior Courts Act seek to enable the addition of two new High Court judges and address vexatious litigants and civil proceedings, applications, and appeals that abuse the courts’ process, the ministry noted.
To achieve the latter objective, the amendments allow a single senior court judge to strike out these proceedings without a hearing and permit the court to restrain an individual with two stricken proceedings within two years from starting or continuing proceedings for three years without the court’s permission, the ministry explained.
The ministry said changes to the Criminal Procedure Act aim to improve the District Court’s case management at the pre-trial stage and decrease the Court of Appeal’s workload by permitting it to refer first appeals in criminal trials to the High Court if appropriate.
On the other hand, amendments to the Coroners Act seek to allow coroners to close inquiries if new information or shifting circumstances render it inappropriate to perform the inquiry, the ministry added in its news release.
According to data from the government’s news release, in the year ending 31 March 2025, the courts:
“This Government is supporting the courts to be more efficient and minimise delays, to ensure everyone can navigate the process smoothly and have trust and confidence in the system,” McKee said in the government’s news release.
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” Goldsmith added in the government’s news release. “Waiting months or years for a case to be resolved only adds to the frustration and trauma for victims and, indeed, all court participants.”
