Role of the Coroner
A coroner is appointed by the Governor-General under the Coroners Act 2006 to investigate certain types of death. A coroner is a warranted judicial officer, and while they have a legal background, they undertake an inquisitorial process to discover what happened rather than hold a trial to apportion blame.
It is the coroner's role to:
- receive notification of a death from the Police;
- decide whether to direct a post-mortem;
- authorise the release of the deceased;
- establish that a person has died, their identity, when and where the person died, the causes of death, and the circumstances of death; and
- give members and representatives of the immediate family notification of matters required by law.
What is involved in an investigation?
Coroners have wide powers to help them carry out their duties, including the power to summons a witness or to commission an examination or investigation, medical or otherwise, to help with an inquiry. In some circumstances, the coroner may refer the death to another investigating authority if it is considered that the public interest would be best served by the death concerned being investigated by another agency.
The end of the investigation
Once the coroner has reviewed all the evidence surrounding the death they will announce any findings and recommendations. This is an inquisitorial process, not a trial, so no blame will be apportioned. The recommendations, if any, may draw public attention to the circumstances surrounding the death that may prevent any future deaths in similar circumstances.
The Chief Coroner is required by law to set up and maintain a register of coroners' summary recommendations. This register of summary recommendations can be found on the Coronial Services of New Zealand website.
