Structure and jurisdictions (specialist)

Key statutes

  • Coroners Act 2006
  • Domestic Actions Act 1975
  • Family Courts Act 1980
  • Family Proceedings Act 1989
  • Family Violence Act 2018
  • Contempt of Court Act 2019
  • Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 (administered by TPK)
  • Court Matters Act 2018
  • Courts Security Act 1999
  • Arbitration Act 1996
  • Arbitration (International Investment Disputes) Act 1979

Key secondary legislation

  • Coroners (Forms) Regulations 2008
  • Coroners (Pathologists Fees) Regulations 2007
  • Family Court Rules 2002
  • Family Courts Fees Regulations 2009
  • Family Courts (Prescribed Proportion of Professionals' Costs) Regulations 2014
  • Family Proceedings Rules 1981
  • Family Violence Regulations 2019

Information/links to recent or currently underway reviews

Recent and current reviews and initiatives include:

  • The Court Matters Act 2018 and the Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018 form an integrated package of amendments contributing to the goal of a modern, effective, and efficient courts and tribunals system.
  • Te Ture Whenua Māori Act reform. The Whenua Māori Programme is a cross-government programme jointly led by Te Puni Kōkiri and the Ministry of Justice. It has included recent reforms to Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993. The Programme is currently focused on implementing these changes to the Act, and other technology and operational changes for the Māori Land Court. Further information on the Programme can be found at:

    Te Puni Kōkiri: Whenua Māori(external link)
  • The Coroners (Access to Body of Dead Person) Amendment Act 2018 amended the Coroners Act 2006 to require the coroner, when determining whether a person should be allowed to remain with the tūpāpaku (the body of a deceased person), to also consider tikanga Māori and the expectations of other cultures.

Forward work

  • The Whenua Māori Programme is currently focused on recent amendments to the  implementing these changes to the Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993, and other technology and operational changes for the Māori Land Court.
  • The Rules Committee regularly updates Court Rules to improve court practice. Further information on the Rules Committee and its current major projects can be found at: 

    Courts of NZ: Rules Committee(external link)