1. Introduction

The Ministry of Justice exists to create a fairer and safer New Zealand and provides many services on behalf of government to help achieve this.

One of the Ministry’s responsibilities is to provide services and facilities that support judicial decision-making processes. This includes the process of bringing proceedings to the appropriate courts to be heard and decided.

In New Zealand, most court activity and trials are open to the media and may be reported in full.

The presiding judge, however, has the power to control court proceedings. This includes discretion over media attendance and coverage, to ensure a fair trial and to protect the integrity of the process.

These media guidelines relate to proceedings in the criminal justice system and other specialist courts and tribunals. They do not include media coverage of civil jurisdiction proceedings.

The guidelines set out in general terms:

• things you need to know when attending court

• what you may and may not report in relation to court proceedings

• what information is available to you

• the processes for accessing and using court information.

Our intention is to foster a consistent and clear-cut approach across the court system, in all our working relationships with media.

This resource will assist your coverage of court proceedings, help you to protect the rights of individuals before the court, and provide you with information that can help you to work within the relevant legislation and rules which govern the court process.