UPDATE 29 June 2021: The whole of Aotearoa New Zealand is now at Alert Level 1. Please check the Courts of NZ website for the latest court protocols:

Courts of New Zealand - court protocols(external link)

We are following Ministry of Health guidelines to protect the health and safety of all court participants and staff. Follow the link above to court protocols for information applicable to your region.

We recommend participants download the NZ COVID Tracer app and scan the COVID-19 QR code using their mobile devices.

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.

Find contact details for a court or tribunal


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.

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