0800 COURTS closes at 3:00pm 24 December 2025, for urgent matters (relating to family matter or bail conditions), please call 0800 253 425. 0800 4 FINES closes at 7:00pm, 24 December 2025. Our Contact Centres will reopen at 8:00am on Monday 5 January 2026. National Office (Aitken Street, Wellington) reception will be closed from 3:00pm on Friday 19 December, reopening at 8:00am on Monday 5 January 2026. For more information, see Court and Tribunal hours
We’ll write to you to let you know that we have received your claim.
An independent assessor will consider your claim.
The case manager handling your claim will send the assessor a summary of what you are claiming. The assessor may ask the case manager to get more information or proof from you about your claim.
The assessor will read your claim along with any documents or evidence you provided to support it. They’ll advise the Secretary for Justice whether to accept your claim. The Secretary decides whether the assessor’s advice is accepted.
The assessor may take into account any reparation ordered by the court or insurance payout you’ve received. The assessor does not need to wait for any court case to take place before making a recommendation about your claim.
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