Courts and Tribunal hours – 26 September 2022

Most courts and tribunals will be closed on Monday 26 September for Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day, a one-off public holiday.

All Senior Courts will be closed. This includes the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

The District Court will be running arrest courts only.

Tribunals have rescheduled any matters set down for that day.

All courts and tribunals will be open on Tuesday 27 September.

If you have any questions, call 0800 COURTS (0800 268 787).

Our Contact Centre is closed for Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day. If your matter is urgent and cannot wait until we re-open, please call 09 526 7119. Otherwise, please call back after 8am on Tuesday 27 September 2022.

 

UPDATE 13 September 2022: Courts remain an essential service and will remain open despite the presence of COVID-19 in the community.

Courts and Tribunals have protocols(external link) that provide a framework for ensuring that everyone who needs to participate in proceedings is able to do so.

Entering a court building

Access to a court or tribunal will be denied to anyone who:

  • is showing signs of illness, and tests positive to COVID-19 or:
  • has tested positive for COVID-19 within the last seven days.

Health and Safety

There may be limits on the number of people not directly involved in proceedings who can be physically present in courtrooms and court buildings.

To protect the safety of all court participants and staff, the following health and safety measures can be expected if you are visiting a court or tribunal:

  • Every person in the public areas of a court building are encouraged to wear a surgical or KN95 (or equivalent). A KN95 mask must be worn by all participants in hearings, if directed by the presiding judicial officer.
  • Wash/sanitise your hands. Sanitiser is readily available throughout the buildings.

Jury trials

Detailed information about jury service, and how jury trials are operating, is outlined in the Jury Trial Guidelines that apply from 13 September 2022

If you have received a jury service summons, you can check if you need to attend jury service on our website at: Check if you need to attend jury service.

Excusals and deferrals for jury trials

If you are not willing to undergo COVID-19 screening, you may ask, before you come to court, to have your jury service deferred. You should complete the “Response to Jury summons” form provided to you, selecting “other personal circumstances” and include the reason in the space provided before returning it to the Ministry in the pre-paid envelope provided.

If you have experienced changes to family or financial circumstances as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, or if you have health and safety concerns, you may request to have your jury service excused or deferred (postponed). Please contact your local court for more information. 

Find contact details for a court or tribunal

Other types of cases

High and District Court matters will proceed in person unless you are advised otherwise. Call 0800 COURTS (0800 268 787) or contact the registry directly at Contact us if you have questions about a specific case.

Please note that all people attending Court for hearings longer than one day may be asked to take a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).

Specialist Courts and Tribunals have implemented their own operating protocols: Courts of New Zealand - Courts and Tribunals protocols(external link)

Counter services

Public court counters are open. Some courts in smaller centres will have counter services available only on scheduled hearing days. 

Exceptions to usual operating hours may occur at times due to unforeseen circumstances. Please call 0800 COURTS (0800 268 787) if you are unsure.

Electronic filing of documents continues to be available. Court documents and applications can be filed, with online payments, using File & Pay(external link)Drop boxes for hard copy documents are also available at all court entrances. Alternative methods of filing will be accepted as per judicial protocols.

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.

For more information for court users, see Information for all court and tribunal users.

Jury trials

Detailed information about jury service, and how jury trials are operating, is outlined in the Jury Trial Guidelines that apply from 13 September 2022

 

PROTOCOL OF THE TENANCY TRIBUNAL

 Tenancy Tribunal operations with COVID-19 in the community.

 This protocol sets out the measures that apply in respect of Tenancy Tribunal proceedings from 13 September 2022.

  1. All Tenancy Tribunal proceedings will be conducted despite the presence of COVID-19 in the community. Proceedings may be conducted in person or remotely as directed by the adjudicator.
  2. This protocol sets out a framework for ensuring that everyone who needs to participate in proceedings in person is able to do so. The primary considerations that underpin this protocol, and decisions under it, are the interests of justice and the protection of the health and safety of everyone in the court building.
  3. This protocol applies subject to any directions given by the adjudicator in a particular case. The adjudicator may direct that requirements set out in this protocol do not apply in a particular case if he or she is satisfied that it is in the interests of justice to do so.

Entry into Court Buildings

  1. The following requirements apply to entry into court buildings:
  • A person may not enter the court building if they are showing signs of illness;
  • A person who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the previous 7 days may not enter a court building.

Masks

  1. All persons entering the court building may wear a surgical mask or a KN95 mask, and are strongly encouraged to do so when moving around the court building (including courtrooms). Masks will be provided at the entry to the court building for all those who do not have their own mask.
  2. A surgical mask or KN95 mask must be worn by all persons present in a courtroom, or by specified persons in a courtroom, if the adjudicator directs.

In-person hearings

  1. The adjudicator may direct that some or all participants in a hearing longer than one day must take a RAT in the morning before attending the courthouse, or on such days as the adjudicator directs.
  2. The Registry will advise any party of the arrangements for obtaining RAT tests if necessary.  
  3. If a Tribunal  participant receives a positive COVID-19 test result, they must not attend the courthouse (and if present, must promptly leave). Whether and how the hearing may be able to continue will be a matter for the adjudicator to determine on a case-by-case basis.
  4. If a Tribunal participant is required to take a RAT, and declines to do so, the adjudicator will determine whether and how the hearing will proceed.
  5. Any concerns about health and safety in the Court should be raised with the Court Manager in the first instance.
  6. This Protocol applies from 13 September 2022 until revoked or modified by the Tribunal.

 

 

Jenny Robson

Principal Tenancy Adjudicator

This page was last updated:

 
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