Amendment to the "In-Court Media Coverage Guidelines 2003" Section 5, Making an Application

There has been an amendment lo the "ln-court media coverage guidelines 2003" section 5(2). This new protocol refers to making an application for in-court media coverage for District Court summary jurisdiction matters and will be implemented from 7 September 2007.

Coverage in this context refers to:

(b) take still photographs (for example, for print); or

(c) record (for example, for radio).

Applications from media to cover a District Court fixture In the summary jurisdiction must now be lodged with the Registrar of the court no less than three working days before the day of the hearing.

Section 3(2) final protocol. August 2007 states:

Note:

Applications to cover jury trials will still need to be lodged at least ten working days before the trial is due to start.

Because the progress of a case through the summary jurisdiction may involve a number of discrete events, each with different considerations (first appearance, entry of plea, defended summary fixture, sentencing, preliminary hearing of Indictable matters etc) and each presided over by different Judicial Officers, it is not appropriate for an application to relate to more than one event. Any application needs to be event specific.

Process for making an application:

All contact details for District Courts are located next to the court's name on the Courts of NZ locate a court' website: (http://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/district/map.php). There is a link from the Ministry of Justice Media centre web-site: (http://www.justice.govt.nz/media').

Email application:

The subject line of your application must include the phrase "Media Application", as this will facilitate prompt referral.

The body text must include:

• your name
• the name of your organisation
• reasons for request
• sufficient particulars of the nature of the coverage, including the duration of any such coverage, to enable the Judicial Officer to assess the degree to which the coverage will intrude on the proceedings

You will receive an email notification that your application has been received. If you wish to follow up on or discuss this application call the court number located on the Courts of NZ web-site and you will be referred to the person processing your application.

Other applications:

Applications can also be faxed, handed over in hard copy, or posted to the Court Manager or Registrar and must also include the particulars listed above in the email application section. However, it is important to be aware of the tight timeframe required in processing applications.

The amendment to the "In-Court Media Coverage Guidelines 2003" is available on the Ministry of Justice Media centre web-site: (http://www.justice.govtnz/media/).

If you would like to discuss this further please contact Brigit Vaughan. Communications Manager. District Courts, Ministry of Justice on 04 918 8845 or Brigit.Vaughan@justice.qovt.nz.