UPDATE 4 September: Courts and tribunals are operating differently at the moment. Please do not come to the courthouse if you are feeling unwell. Contact 0800 COURTS (0800 268 787) if you cannot enter the courthouse or are not sure whether to attend.

Protocols for how courts and tribunals will operate during COVID-19 Alert Level 2 have been released on the Courts of NZ website(external link).

Find contact details for a court or tribunal

We are following Ministry of Health guidelines to protect the health and safety of all court participants and staff. Please remember to use the NZ COVID Tracer app to scan the QR code upon entry, or sign in using the paper registration form.

Factsheet: Health and Safety measures during COVID-19 Alert Level 2 [PDF, 104 KB]

Jury trials in the Auckland region
The Chief Justice has announced jury trials in the Auckland region are resuming from Monday 7 September 2020. From Monday 7 September 2020, jurors are requested to attend in accordance with their summons or any later instructions from the Registry.

Arrangements are in place to keep jurors safe while Auckland remains at Alert Level 2 with extra restrictions.
Read the Chief Justice's media statement 3 September 2020 re the resumption of jury trials(external link)

All of New Zealand
Please attend on your scheduled date unless a Judge or Registrar has advised otherwise.

Entry into courthouses is limited to defendants, parties, witnesses, complainants, victims, and other stakeholders. Members of the public (including whānau/support person for a defendant) whose presence is not required at court may only attend if granted permission from the presiding Judge.

Public counters are generally open.

Use of face masks in court buildings
Face masks should be worn while in public areas of Auckland court buildings effective from 31 August until further notice. This applies to all court participants and staff to maintain health and safety standards. It is an additional precaution for everyone in the court building. Disposable masks are freely available from security at court entrances.

For the rest of New Zealand, face mask use is encouraged in court buildlings.

Judicial protocols have been updated to reflect this on the Courts of New Zealand website(external link).

Read the Chief Justice's media statement 28 August 2020 regarding masks in court.(external link)

In this section you'll find information about going to court - preparing for court, what to expect and legal aid.

  • Prepare for court

    Find out how to get an interpreter in court, or ask the court to speak in another language, how to file a document, or make an application, at court and how to get a document witnessed or certified.

  • What to expect at court

    When you first arrive at court, you should expect to go through court security. Find out what to expect if you're a witness, supporting someone going to court and what happens inside a court room.

  • Legal aid

    Legal aid is government funding to pay for legal help for people who can't afford a lawyer.

  • Going to court without a lawyer

    You can represent yourself at court, without a lawyer. Find out how to prepare to represent yourself.

  • Court fees for civil & family court cases

    Fees can apply for some applications or stages of a court case.

  • Court hearing schedules

    Most courts have a hearing schedule of what cases are being heard and when. The Family Court and Youth Court are not open to the public.

This page was last updated:

 
Share