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Criminal Legal Aid Applications – defendants in custody
16 April 2026
Duty Lawyers are reminded of the following regarding defendants in custody:
Arrest on a warrant or breach (existing counsel): Where a defendant has existing counsel, that counsel should be contacted and given the opportunity to attend court or provide instructions, including in relation to bail.
Arrest on new charges (existing counsel): Where a defendant is arrested on new matters, a new criminal legal aid application must be completed by the Duty Lawyer, regardless of existing representation on other charges.
Remand status: Where it is known at the time the legal aid application is completed that a defendant is remanded in custody, this should be clearly recorded on the form. This helps ensure the assigned provider has the most up-to-date information and may enable bail to be considered ahead of the next court event.
Expression of Interest AODT Court Kirikiriroa
16 April 2026
About the AODT Court
The AODT Court aims to break the cycle of offending by treating the causes of that offending. It provides an alternative to imprisonment for people whose offending is driven by alcohol and/or drug substance use disorders.
The goals of the AODT Court are to:
• reduce reoffending
• reduce rates of imprisonment
• reduce alcohol and other drug consumption and dependency
Due to the increase in cases coming to the AODT court in Kirikiriroa, an additional lawyer is needed.
Lawyers working in the AODT Courts must have at least criminal PAL 1 and duty lawyer approval. Lawyers work in teams of five (one team leader and four defence lawyers).
Each lawyer represents approx. 11-15 clients and is required to attend court for a full day each Thursday of every week. The day starts at 8.30am with a pre-court meeting and finishes when all scheduled participants have appeared before the judge. The remuneration is set at $108 per hour for all activities, there are no fixed fees.
Expressions of interest
We are asking for expressions of interest from anyone who meets the following criteria:
• has duty lawyer approval, and a current criminal PAL 1 approval or above
• supports the therapeutic goals of AODT Courts
• champions the increasing use of te reo and tikanga Māori
• understands and agrees to the workload and time commitment involved.
Prior to expressing your interest, please read the role expectations. (Role Expectations [PDF, 233 KB]) To submit your expression of interest, send your completed application form [PDF, 224 KB] to kamini.mccarthy@justice.govt.nz by 5:00pm, Friday 24 April 2026.
More information
If you have any questions or want more information, please contact kamini.mccarthy@justice.govt.nz.
If you are not currently approved as a legal aid provider, you can begin the application process here(external link)
Expression of Interest – Performance Review Committee Chairperson
16 April 2026
Seeking those interested in becoming Chairperson of the Performance Review Committee
The Performance Review Committee (PRC) plays a vital role in the maintenance of an efficient and ethical legal aid system by providing advice to the Secretary for Justice on matters relating to the performance of legal aid providers.
The PRC are looking to recruit a new chairperson. The Chairperson is responsible for ensuring this function can be properly carried out, and acts with secretarial support from the Ministry of Justice.
We are currently seeking Expressions of Interests from senior lawyers who would like to be considered for the Chairperson position for a minimum term of two years.
The Chairperson will have:
at least seven years’ legal experience
demonstrated proficiency in one or more areas of law
a strong understanding of a lawyers’ professional obligations
an interest in legal ethics
experience in, or knowledge of, providing legal aid services or specified legal services
working knowledge of financial management in the State sector (this is desirable but not a necessity).
It is not necessary that the successful applicant be an approved legal aid provider. However, if you are not a current legal aid provider, please also provide a valid Certificate of Standing from the New Zealand Law Society (NZLS).
The Legal Aid Performance Review Committee requires a quorum of three members, including the Chair, and members will be allocated to meetings based on the expertise required to conduct each meeting. For each meeting the Committee will be given documents to read that form the background to the referral.
The Committee meets as and when needed, and the time needed to prepare for and attend meetings varies case by case. The number of committee meetings will depend on the number of serious performance related issues the Ministry has to address, where serious sanctions such as cancellation or modification of approval must be considered.
It is a requirement that all candidates disclose if they have been the subject of a substantiated Ministry or NZLS complaint/disciplinary action. Please also note that by expressing your interest you consent to the NZLS undertaking regulatory checks and sharing your complaints history with us where necessary.
If you have any question or wish to apply please submit your CV, a valid Certificate of Standing (if needed), and a cover letter tolegalaidprovider@justice.govt.nzby Sunday 26 April 2026.
Expression of Interest – Performance Review Committee Chairperson
9 April 2026
Seeking those interested in becoming Chairperson of the Performance Review Committee
The Performance Review Committee (PRC) plays a vital role in the maintenance of an efficient and ethical legal aid system by providing advice to the Secretary for Justice on matters relating to the performance of legal aid providers.
The PRC are looking to recruit a new chairperson. The Chairperson is responsible for ensuring this function can be properly carried out, and acts with secretarial support from the Ministry of Justice.
We are currently seeking Expressions of Interests from senior lawyers who would like to be considered for the Chairperson position for a minimum term of two years.
The Chairperson will have:
at least seven years’ legal experience
demonstrated proficiency in one or more areas of law
a strong understanding of a lawyers’ professional obligations
an interest in legal ethics
experience in, or knowledge of, providing legal aid services or specified legal services
working knowledge of financial management in the State sector (this is desirable but not a necessity).
It is not necessary that the successful applicant be an approved legal aid provider. However, if you are not a current legal aid provider, please also provide a valid Certificate of Standing from the New Zealand Law Society (NZLS).
The Legal Aid Performance Review Committee requires a quorum of three members, including the Chair, and members will be allocated to meetings based on the expertise required to conduct each meeting. For each meeting the Committee will be given documents to read that form the background to the referral.
The Committee meets as and when needed, and the time needed to prepare for and attend meetings varies case by case. The number of committee meetings will depend on the number of serious performance related issues the Ministry has to address, where serious sanctions such as cancellation or modification of approval must be considered.
It is a requirement that all candidates disclose if they have been the subject of a substantiated Ministry or NZLS complaint/disciplinary action. Please also note that by expressing your interest you consent to the NZLS undertaking regulatory checks and sharing your complaints history with us where necessary.
Further information can be found on the Ministry’s website here(external link).
If you have any question or wish to apply please submit your CV, a valid Certificate of Standing (if needed), and a cover letter to legalaidprovider@justice.govt.nz by Sunday 26 April 2026.
Expression of Interest – Performance Review Committee Chairperson
2 April 2026
Seeking those interested in becoming Chairperson of the Performance Review Committee
The Performance Review Committee (PRC) plays a vital role in the maintenance of an efficient and ethical legal aid system by providing advice to the Secretary for Justice on matters relating to the performance of legal aid providers.
The PRC are looking to recruit a new chairperson. The Chairperson is responsible for ensuring this function can be properly carried out, and acts with secretarial support from the Ministry of Justice.
We are currently seeking Expressions of Interests from senior lawyers who would like to be considered for the Chairperson position for a minimum term of two years.
The Chairperson will have:
at least seven years’ legal experience
demonstrated proficiency in one or more areas of law
a strong understanding of a lawyers’ professional obligations
an interest in legal ethics
experience in, or knowledge of, providing legal aid services or specified legal services
working knowledge of financial management in the State sector (this is desirable but not a necessity).
It is not necessary that the successful applicant be an approved legal aid provider. However, if you are not a current legal aid provider, please also provide a valid Certificate of Standing from the New Zealand Law Society (NZLS).
The Legal Aid Performance Review Committee requires a quorum of three members, including the Chair, and members will be allocated to meetings based on the expertise required to conduct each meeting. For each meeting the Committee will be given documents to read that form the background to the referral.
The Committee meets as and when needed, and the time needed to prepare for and attend meetings varies case by case. The number of committee meetings will depend on the number of serious performance related issues the Ministry has to address, where serious sanctions such as cancellation or modification of approval must be considered.
It is a requirement that all candidates disclose if they have been the subject of a substantiated Ministry or NZLS complaint/disciplinary action. Please also note that by expressing your interest you consent to the NZLS undertaking regulatory checks and sharing your complaints history with us where necessary.
Further information can be found on the Ministry’s website here(external link).
If you have any question or wish to apply please submit your CV, a valid Certificate of Standing (if needed), and a cover letter to legalaidprovider@justice.govt.nz by Sunday 26 April 2026.
When submitting a final invoice for matters where your client has received proceeds of proceedings or costs (such as Relationship Property), please ensure you include these details with your final invoice.
This information helps us ensure the correct final repayment amounts are calculated and also allows faster finalising of any associated debt.
Legal Aid is available for responding to an Identity Publication Order application to lift name suppression
26 March 2026
The Criminal Procedure Amendment Rules 2026 amends the Criminal Procedure Rules 2012 to establish a clear and consistent process for complainants in sexual offences to apply to the court for a:
complainant identity publication order to lift their own automatic name suppression
defendant identity publication order to lift a defendant or offender’s automatic name suppression.
The Victims of Sexual Violence (Strengthening Legal Protections) Legislation Act 2025 requires applications to lift automatic name suppression be made in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Rules 2012.
An application for an identity publication order can be made at any time, including after the case is closed. When an application is made, the defendant is able to file a written submission in response.
Legal aid is available for defendants/offenders for preparing and filing these submissions:
If an application is made during a proceeding and there is an active legal aid grant for the applicable charge(s), the application can be funded from the existing grant of aid.
If an application is made after the case is closed and there is no active grant for the applicable charge(s), the defendant/offender must apply for legal aid. The application will be considered under the usual criteria, and a new grant will created if the application is approved. Approval is not automatic, and the application may be declined if the defendant/offender’s financial circumstances have changed.
The available funding for responding to an Identify Publication order application is the “Applications and variations (opposed)” fixed fee and associated hearing time.
Reminder – Update Legal Aid Services when FV matters are finalised
12 March 2026
Please advise Legal Aid Services when family violence proceedings are disposed, but other matters on the grant continue. Legal Aid Services requires the date of disposal, which can be included with your final invoice for the family violence matter.
This information is needed because it may affect the client’s final repayment amount and helps us calculate this correctly.
Changes to alcohol and other drug (AOD) reports
5 March 2026
The Ministry of Justice is introducing an approved alcohol and other drug (AOD) report writer service in June 2026.
The new service will provide a panel of qualified AOD report writers who are approved by the Ministry to provide AOD reports for criminal cases in New Zealand courts. Procurement for AOD report writers to join the panel will start on 5 March 2026.
AOD report writers on the panel will use a report template that was developed in consultation with judiciary and will receive a fixed rate per report. Report writers will be required to deliver reports 13 days before the sentencing date.
The new service will ensure that all participants receive the same quality AOD reports and that judges receive consistent information to inform sentencing decisions.
Reports from AOD report writers from the panel will be pre-approved legal aid disbursements.
Legal aid lawyers who choose to request AOD reports from non-Ministry-approved AOD report writers will need to continue to request an amendment to grant.
The Ministry of Justice has published information on legal aid payments to firms in the 2024/25 financial year.
Legal Services Commissioner, Tracey Baguley, says the data shows payments to 1437 firms whose legal aid providers undertook work on a range of cases in the criminal, civil and family courts and a number of specialist courts and tribunals. The Ministry spent $308 million on legal aid in 2024/25 which is an increase of $23 million on the year before.
There are currently about 2691 private lawyers approved to provide legal aid services, working for firms or independently.
The named firms can have a number of approved providers.
The payments to firms are for legal services provided by approved providers under the legal aid scheme and may not have been made directly to any individual named in this report.
The total amount payments include the fees of approved providers, including those claimed on behalf of other approved providers, and disbursements for general office costs, travel costs, and special disbursements, which include fees for agents, expert witnesses, forensic tests, interpreters and special reports, such as medical or valuation reports.
Disbursement payments relate to the amount of disbursements paid from the payment total for each firm.
Health, Safety and Security reminders and resources for providers
5 February 2026
Health, Safety and Security (HSS) site inductions are available for lawyers at all courts. HSS site inductions contain site specific information and are designed to give an overview of the security settings onsite at that Court, and to provide simple ways to keep yourself safe.
We encourage your attendance every 12 months to allow the Ministry to provide updates on any changes to the site, and to provide information to you about safety best-practices. You should attend an HSS site induction for each court site you regularly visit.
To book onto an induction please talk to your local Court Security Manager. Alternatively, you can email NSOadmin@justice.govt.nz and ask for the email address of your local Court Security Manager.
The NZ Law Society offer free counselling services, and other resources to support practising well. This information is available NZLS | Practising Well(external link)
New legislation goes live 1 February 2026 to improve case management within the District Court at the pre-trial stage
22 January 2026
The Judicature (Timeliness) Legislation Amendment Bill, introduced as part of Budget 2025, has now passed and will come into effect on 1 February 2026. This omnibus Bill contains several items to improve court timeliness by freeing up judicial resources, reducing duplication, and unnecessary churn.
One of the changes is an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (the Act). The new s156A of the Act will allow a District Court Judge to direct that some or all charges against the same defendant be managed together at the pre-trial stage (including the administrative and review stages), in the same District Court location.
An overview of what this change means is below:
The judicial direction will only apply to new proceedings. This is to ensure that it will not disrupt proceedings currently underway.
The judicial direction only applies to pre-trial proceedings. Charges will go back to the original court of filing for trial and/or sentencing, unless the judge directs that the charge is transferred to a different District Court location.
The judiciary will consider requests to combine proceedings on a case-by-case basis.