Courts
Ministry of Justice - Courts
Courts have a wide variety of roles including enforcing the criminal law, resolving civil disputes, upholding the rights of individuals, ensuring that government agencies stay within the law, and explaining the law.
In resolving disputes courts consider the evidence on all sides of the dispute, interpret the law as it applies to that evidence and then determine a judgment.
Courts are independent and impartial and the decisions of individual judges sitting in courts are subject only to law.
The Judiciary
The Judiciary is made up of judges and judicial officers who apply the law by hearing and deciding cases in an impartial and fair manner, in accordance with established legal principles.
Find out more about the Judiciary
The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is New Zealand's final court of appeal with the role of maintaining overall coherence in the legal system.
Find out more about the Supreme Court
Court of Appeal
The Court of Appeal is New Zealand's intermediate appellate court, dealing with civil and criminal appeals from proceedings heard in the High Court, and indictable criminal proceedings in District Courts.
Find out more about the Court of Appeal
High Court
The High Court has jurisdiction over both criminal and civil matters, and deals with cases at first instance or on appeal from other courts and certain tribunals.
Find out more about the High Court
District Court
The 66 District Courts around New Zealand deal with both criminal and civil matters.
Find out more about the District Court
Family Court
The Family Court is a division of the District Court and aims to help families sort out their issues while ensuring the interests of children are represented.
Visit the Family Court website
Youth Court
The Youth Court is a division of the District Court dealing with young people 14, 15 and 16 years old.
Environment Court
Most of the work of the Environment Court involves issues arising under the Resource Management Act, largely dealing with appeals about regional and district statements and plans, and appeals relating to applications for resource consent.
Visit the Environment Court website
Employment Court
The Employment Court hears cases relating to employment disputes, particularly challenges to determinations of the Employment Relations Authority.
Visit the Employment Court website
Coroners Court
Coroners investigate the circumstances and cause of death, and make recommendations for the improvement of public safety and to prevent deaths in similar circumstances.
Visit the Coronial Services website
Māori Land Court
The Māori Land Court maintains records of title and ownership information of Māori land and has jurisdiction to hear matters relating to Māori land
