Courts remain an essential service throughout all COVID-19 restrictions, but may operate differently. The current COVID-19 Omicron outbreak means some courts and tribunals are experiencing staff shortages. This may impact on court operations through reduced services, and customer counter hours may differ from those published. For more detailed information about a specific court, please call 0800 COURTS (0800 268 787).
For more information for court users, see: Information for all court and tribunal users.
In this section you'll find information about going to court - preparing for court, what to expect and legal aid.
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.
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 is government funding to pay for legal help for people who can't afford a lawyer.
You can represent yourself at court, without a lawyer. Find out how to prepare to represent yourself.
Fees can apply for some applications or stages of a court case.
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.
The District Court Amendment Rules 2021 include changes to the Criminal Procedure Rules 2012 and the District Court Rules 2014, which require the addition of te reo Māori registry names in the header of existing criminal and civil District Court documents.
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