Draft Long-term Insights Briefing open for consultation
The Ministry of Justice has opened public consultation on its draft Long-term Insights Briefing (LTIB) on The Future Operation of the Courts and Justice Services.
LTIBs are not government policy. Instead, they are intended to help us think about the future and what will matter most for the long-term wellbeing of New Zealand. The insights generated may help shape future policy and improve court system outcomes.
This LTIB identifies key future trends, outlines the Ministry’s aspirations for the court system, highlights current initiatives, and presents six strategic choices that could shape the system over the next two decades. These are not policy proposals but ideas for discussion and exploration.
New Zealand’s population is projected to grow and age. Increasing diversity, rates of disability, mental health challenges and addiction issues will require the system to be more accessible and inclusive. Rapidly changing technology, including AI, comes with both opportunity and risk for the court system, at a time when trust in institutions is declining. The system is becoming increasingly expensive to run. At the same time, many people cannot afford to access courts.
The Ministry wants to hear from the public, as well as those who have experience of or work in the justice system at all levels, to ensure the briefing takes account of diverse perspectives and real-world challenges. Consultation runs from 9 October to 9 November, with the intent to publish the finalised briefing in December.
The draft LTIB document and details of how to make a submission can be found on the Ministry of Justice consultation hub(external link)
The topic for this briefing was confirmed after consultation from December 2024 through to January 2025. This is the second Ministry of Justice LTIB.
Find out more about the Ministry’s previous briefings and consultations on our website:
Long-Term Insights Briefing
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