0800 COURTS closes at 3:00pm 24 December 2025, for urgent matters (relating to family matter or bail conditions), please call 0800 253 425. 0800 4 FINES closes at 7:00pm, 24 December 2025. Our Contact Centres will reopen at 8:00am on Monday 5 January 2026. National Office (Aitken Street, Wellington) reception will be closed from 3:00pm on Friday 19 December, reopening at 8:00am on Monday 5 January 2026. For more information, see Court and Tribunal hours
Every court has a registrar and most courts also have several deputy registrars who are able to exercise most of the powers of a registrar, as permitted by legislation.
Registrars, including deputy registrars, are statutory appointments and are able to exercise specified jurisdiction of the court, including considering applications to access some court records.
Note: In some matters registrars will need to refer applications to a judge (see 6.2 Searches and search rules).
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