NZ scores sixth of 142 countries covered by World Justice Project rule of law index
Helen Winkelmann, New Zealand’s chief justice, has announced the release of her 2024 annual report, which seeks to help the public understand the country’s courts, their manner of administration, and judicial leaders’ priorities and initiatives in 2024.
“This report provides the opportunity for the judiciary to speak publicly about the functioning of the courts, and in particular the challenges and opportunities for access to justice and the operation of the courts,” Winkelmann said in a media statement.
“The judiciary has a unique perspective on these topics, formed through the daily work of administering justice through the courts, and it is essential that this perspective is heard,” Winkelmann added.
The report covers:
Winkelmann shared that New Zealand scored sixth among 142 countries monitored in the World Justice Project’s rule of law index.
She attributed this ranking to the assessment of New Zealand’s judiciary as independent and corruption-free, with it belonging to the minority of countries where the rule of law did not weaken in 2024.
“Even so, New Zealand cannot afford to be complacent,” Winkelmann said in the annual report. “As world events show, the rule of law is a fragile thing. How judges and the courts work, and are supported in their work, is of public importance and interest.”
She said the justice system is undergoing significant stress. She added that the legal profession, which plays a crucial role in the courts’ work, faces obstacles such as heavy workloads, distressing and challenging subject matter, security issues, and a strained legal aid system, with lawyers opting not to offer their services through the system.
Winkelmann noted that, when wisely utilised, technology can tackle some barriers to justice, facilitate court access, lessen the costs and complexity of participating in proceedings, and promote efficient resolution of litigation.
