Latest updates

IMPORTANT: All the key information relating to our Ministry's response to COVID-19 is in our COVID-19 information hub

This page was last updated on 10 June at 5.15 pm

Latest updates on our website relating to the Ministry's response to COVID-19 are listed below:

10 June 2020

Information for all court users has been updated in response to COVID-19 Alert Level 1.
Jury service has been updated in response to COVID-19 Alert Level 1.

4 June 2020

Arbitrating commercial lease disputes - New policy to support commercial landlords and tenants to reach agreement about rent disputes relating to COVID-19.

25 May 2020

The page about advice on the consistency of Bills with the Bill of Rights Act was updated with new guidance relating to the COVID-19 Public Health Response Bill and the Forests Amendment Bill

22 May 2020

The Chief District Court Judge has issued a practice note setting out the process for appeals to a public health order issued under section 11 of the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020.
Updated Guidance for commercial leases and mortgages in response to COVID-19 Alert Level 2.
Updated Commercial property guidance for lawyers in response to COVID-19 Alert Level 2.
Advice on how to make a claim in the Disputes Tribunal(external link) was updated in light of COVID-19 Alert Level 2.
COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions were updated with information about Protection Orders.
The Māori Land Court site was updated with guidance for trusts, incorporations and land owners affected by COVID-19.(external link)
Guidance relating to the payment of fines during COVID-19 was updated.

19 May 2020

Information for families and whānau has been updated in response to COVID-19 Alert Level 2
Participating in a virtual meeting room court hearing has been updated
Court entry screening to change from Monday 18th May

18 May 2020

COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions were updated
Read the COVID-19 Alert Level 2 tribunal protocols on the individual tribunal pages

17 May 2020

Courts and tribunals continue to conduct as much of its usual business as it is safely able to in COVID-19 Alert Level 2.
Read the court protocols during COVID-19 Alert Level 2 on the Courts of New Zealand website.(external link)
Updated information for all court users in response to COVID-19 Alert Level 2.
Updated Guidance for Residential Property Settlements in response to COVID-19 Alert Level 2.
Updated Guidance for Lawyers about Property Settlements in response to COVID-19 Alert Level 2.

15 May 2020

Report 3 of the COVID-19 Justice Sector Survey was released
Our guidance for managing shared parenting during COVID-19 was updated in response to COVID-19 Alert Level 2.
The Accident Compensation Appeals District Court Registry updated their COVID-19 Alert Level 2 guidance

14 May 2020

As directed by the Chief Justice, courts and tribunals remain operating at COVID-19 Alert Level 3 protocols(external link) and will transition to Alert Level 2 protocols on Monday 18 May.
A factsheet about health and safety measures that will be in place in the courts for Alert Level 2 has been published
FAQs for Youth Court Professionals on COVID-19 Alert Level 2 published on the Youth Court page
Updated Guidance for Managing Shared Custody in light of COVID-19 Alert Level 2

12 May 2020

Ministry of Justice's Crime and Victims Survey Team results of Alert Level 4 lockdown survey has been published

8 May 2020

A factsheet about health and safety measures that are in place in the courts for Alert Level 3 has been published

7 May 2020

Reports from the COVID-19 Justice Sector Survey have been published

6 May 2020

Information about alcohol licensing has been updated

5 May 2020

Access to court locations updated with the latest status of all courts, including how to file documents at each location
FAQs for Youth Court Professionals on COVID-19 Alert Level 3 published on the Youth Court page

29 April 2020

Criminal Record Checks was updated with information about how the service is operating under COVID-19 Alert Level 3
Coronial Services(external link) was updated with information about how the service is operating under COVID-19 Alert Level 3
Information for the legal profession was updated with guidance for COVID-19 Alert Level 3
Information for all court users was updated with guidance for COVID-19 Alert Level 3
Information about oaths, affirmations and declarations was updated with guidance for COVID-19 Alert Level 3
Family court guidance was updated with information about COVID-19 Alert Level 3
The Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority was updated with information about how the service is operating under COVID-19 Alert Level 3
COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions were updated
Our Courts landing page was updated with information about how the courts are operating under COVID-19 Alert Level 3
The Family section of the website was updated with guidance about COVID-19 Alert Level 3.

28 April 2020

Updated Court Closures page with information about which courts are operating at COVID-19 Alert Level 3
Updated About Civil Debt pages in light of COVID-19 Alert Level 3
Updated Information for people needing to complete oaths in light of COVID-19 Alert Level 3
Updated Canterbury Earthquakes Insurance Tribunal in light of COVID-19 Alert Level 3
Updated Land Valuation Tribunal in light of COVID-19 Alert Level 3
Updated Guidance for Residential Property Settlements in light of COVID-19 Alert Level 3
Updated Guidance for Lawyers about Property Settlements in light of COVID-19 Alert Level 3
Updated Guidance for Managing Shared Custody in light of COVID-19 Alert Level 3

27 April 2020

Updated Frequently Asked Questions in relation to parenting orders and shared custody in Alert Level 3

Information about how various tribunals will operate in COVID-19 Alert Level 3 was published:

24 April 2020

Information for all court users updated to outline how courts will work at Alert Level 3.
Changes were made to the signing and witnessing of Enduring Powers of Attorney in light of COVID-19.

23 April 2020

Added new Media Guide.
Uploaded COVID-19 Level 3 emergency directions advisory from Private Security & Personnel Licensing Authority.

22 April 2020

FAQs about COVID-19 were updated.
Latest updates about COVID-19 were updated.

21 April 2020

A dedicated COVID-19 section was launched on our website.

20 April 2020

FAQs about COVID-19 were updated.

17 April 2020

Changes were made to the requirements for signing and witnessing wills, as well as taking oaths, affirmations and declarations, in light of COVID-19.
Requirements for alcohol licensing also changed.
More information was provided about family court guidance.
Information about admission to the bar was added.
New guidance for the media in court was added.

15 April 2020

Rules around commercial leases and mortgages were updated in light of COVID-19.
Added new property advice to COVID-19 information page.

14 April 2020

Updated guidance for managing shared custody of children during COVID-19.

9 April 2020

Updated information regarding Canterbury Earthquakes Insurance Tribunal process during COVID-19.

← Back to the news

This page was last updated: 2nd July 2020