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Important reminders for appearing by Microsoft Teams or by phone for your court matter You must: - not record take photos or videos of the hearing, smoke, use e-cigarettes or vape pens, or eat during the hearing. You may drink water - ensure that anyone attending the hearing with you has permission from the court - use microphones correctly. Microphones should always be on mute, unless you're giving evidence or if the presiding judge addresses you - stay connected to the link during a short adjournment but turn your camera off and mute your microphone.
Your appearance at court may be held remotely using an audio-visual link (AVL), Microsoft Teams (Teams) or other telephone and video-conferencing method as agreed by the court or tribunal. This is called a remote court hearing or conference.
Court Remote Observation for Complainants and Victims
The Courts Remote Participation Amendment Act 2024 took effect from 2 March 2025.
The new law allows victims and their support people to remotely observe criminal trials or sentencing if the technology is available and the judge considers this appropriate.
A guide has been developed with the judiciary to support victims using the new provisions.
You may need to attend or participate in a court hearing or conference remotely. This means you’ll need to attend via teleconference (phone), Virtual Meeting Rooms (VMR) or Microsoft Teams (Teams).
The judge or court or judicial officer may decide if a hearing (or ‘appearance’) will happen over the phone or by video. This might be due to an emergency event where we can’t use the courthouse, or because it is a matter that doesn’t require parties to attend in person.
You’ll be told by the court if your hearing is happening over phone or video. This will be confirmed in writing by email and will include the date and time of the hearing.
The other court participants, including the judicial officer, counsel, witnesses, victims, central registry officers (CRO) will also attend remotely.
VMR is a remote hearing solution delivered with video conference equipment. VMR hearings require users to have access to Jabber Quick Guest software and the Mozilla Firefox web browser.
A VMR meeting will involve at least two and usually three meeting room connections – one for the judge, one for the defendant and one for all other parties.
Teams is a communication and collaboration platform that allows participants to communicate via video, audio and chat. All attendees, including the judicial officer and CRO, can appear from any location.
If you’re using:
a laptop or computer, you can access Teams through a web browser (Microsoft Edge is recommended) or as an application.
a smartphone or tablet, you must access or download the Teams application.
a mobile phone or landline, you’ll only be able to use the audio feature of Teams.
The same rules apply to a remote hearing as they would if you were appearing in person before a judge.
When a court allows participation for a remote hearing this is a direction from the Court. This means all participants are required to follow court rules. These are called ‘Court Protocol for Participation in Remote Hearings.’
Compliance with court rules and directions are essential to preserving the integrity of the Court process and to protect the privacy of those involved in the proceeding. Failure to comply with court rules will be treated as a breach of a court order.
More information about the court rules - Court Protocol for Participation in Remote Hearings is available on the Courts of New Zealand website at the following link:
You must follow the below rules at all times during the hearing:
Follow all instructions from the judge and the court taker/hearing manager
Dress appropriately for court, just as you would if you were going to a courthouse
No smoking or using e-cigarettes or vape pens
No eating
Drink water only
Sit in a private, quiet space where you won’t be interrupted
If using video, make sure your face is well lit and that your shoulders and face are fully visible on the screen
You must be by yourself unless the court has given permission to have someone with you
Do not record or take photos or videos of the hearing. This means all and any participants must:
not record the screen (video) or audio and must not take still photographs. This includes a prohibition on downloading or capturing, by any means, sounds or images from the video feed, whether by software or digital devices, including cell phones, and a prohibition on electronic sharing of any content from the hearing
not publish any report of the hearing while it is in progress. This includes publishing material on any social media platform or any other media
adhere to court suppression orders. This includes a prohibition on publishing information on social media.
If you are a victim, you can listen in to phone hearings. If necessary, and you have the required technology, you can also appear in or watch a video hearing. That means you don’t have to be seen by other people during the hearing if you don’t want to be.
A Court Victim Advisor will contact you to talk about options for participating in a phone or video hearing. They will also provide instructions for joining the hearing, let you know what to expect, and create a plan for following up after the hearing.
You’ll receive instructions about how to join the hearing remotely and contact details for the court. You’ll need to tell the court:
your contact phone number and email
if you can’t join a phone or video hearing due to limited internet access, mobile service, or device issues
if want to have someone join the hearing with you, such as a support worker.
To be prepared for the remote court hearing, you need:
the right software or apps on your device
a quiet, private space to sit for the hearing and to tell anyone around you (eg family/whānau or colleagues) that you cannot be disturbed during the hearing
all required documents and information with you. You may be asked to take an oath or affirmation at the start of the hearing. If you want to do this using a religious book or scripture, have it with you
to check that the phone, laptop, or tablet you are using to connect to the hearing is fully charged or connected to power
to put any other phones or electronic devices on silent or turn them off
to be seated and ready to go 15 minutes before the hearing, to avoid any delays.
Phone and video hearings work the same as hearings in a court. The judge or court taker/hearing manager will tell you what will happen at the start of the hearing.
Tell the judge if you need more information or a break during the hearing.
Remember that you will be visible at all times if you are on video. Even when you aren’t talking, you must use appropriate behaviour.