The justice sector brings together six core agencies: Ministry of Justice, New Zealand Police, Department of Corrections, Oranga Tamariki – Ministry for Children, Crown Law Office, and the Serious Fraud Office. 

Justice Sector agencies work together to improve how people experience the criminal justice system; and to deliver safe, timely and just outcomes for New Zealanders.

The Board is supported by the Justice Sector Directorate, established in 2022 to coordinate system-wide work, support the Justice Sector Leadership Board and other sector governance groups, and strengthen collaboration across the justice sector.

  • Timely Justice Action Plan

    The Timely Justice Action Plan focuses on improving timeliness of criminal cases progressing through the District Court, and reducing backlogs.

  • Victims Work Programme

    The Victims Work Programme includes seven initiatives designed to improve the experience of victims when they engage with the justice system.

  • Government Target 4 - Reduced violent crime

    In 2024, the Government set nine targets to improve the lives of New Zealanders. For law and order, Government Target 4 aims to reduce the number of people who are victims of assault, robbery or sexual assault by 20,000 by December 2029.

  • Actions to combat meth

    In March 2025, the Prime Minister tasked the Minister of Justice with leading a Methamphetamine Ministerial Group to find further solutions to combat meth use.

  • Sector Governance

    The Justice Sector Leadership Board, comprising the chief executives of six justice agencies, provides shared direction for the sector and governance of key work programmes. The Board is supported by the Justice Sector Directorate, which helps to co-ordinate and drive progress across key sector work programmes.

  • Proceeds of Crime Fund

    The Proceeds of Crime Fund converts bad money to good. It is available to public and non-public service departments to provide a range of targeted interventions that reduce violent crime, directly supporting Government Target 4.

  •  Behavioural Insights

    We work to understand people better so we can make our justice system work for them. We use evidence and research methods from social sciences to ensure policies and processes reflect the way people behave and make decisions.

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