17 September, 2008
Proposals get tough on fine dodgers
Getting tough on people who don’t pay their fines is the message from a package of proposals announced today.
Read full release >>Courts
Associated Ministers
- Rick Barker - Minister
11 September, 2008
New High Court Rules will benefit court users
Courts Minister Hon Rick Barker welcomed Parliament’s passing of the Judicature (High Court Rules) Amendment Bill last night.
Read full release >>8 September, 2008
New services for families at court
Courts Minister Rick Barker said that last Friday’s passing of the provisions in the Family Courts Matters Bill, is a welcome move to provide new services to families and extend the openness of the Family Court.
Read full release >>28 August, 2008
Joint operations net over $1m in unpaid fines
More than $1 million has either been paid, or put under a payment arrangement, following successful joint operations between the District Court and the NZ Police over the past 12 months.
Read full release >>27 August, 2008
Judicature (High Court Rules) Amendment bill first reading
The Judicature (High Court Rules) Amendment Bill, which will implement a major rewrite of the High Court Rules, had its first reading in Parliament last evening.
Read full release >>26 August, 2008
A record year for collection of fines at airports
More than $3 million fines and reparation has been collected this year. This proves the worth of the government initiative that can stop people from travelling overseas if they have unpaid fines or owe money to victims of crime.
Read full release >>14 August, 2008
Courts Minister signals further work on e-filing
Speaking today at the inaugural New Zealand Lawtech and e-Discovery Summit in Auckland, Courts Minister Rick Barker highlighted the work being undertaken to look at expanding electronic filing.
Read full release >>12 August, 2008
Family Violence Courts Evaluations
Courts Minister Rick Barker has welcomed the findings of research conducted on Manukau and Waitakere Family Violence Courts.
Read full release >>1 August, 2008
Lawyers and Conveyancers Act comes into effect
The Act introduces a new complaints service for customers of lawyers and conveyancers.
Read full release >>21 July, 2008
New regulations to help get P cases moving
As of May this year, roughly half of the criminal cases awaiting trial in the High Court were methamphetamine related cases.
Read full release >>14 July, 2008
Government’s preferred approach to tribunal reform released
I want to see that tribunals encapsulate the hallmarks of courts, that they are independent and focussed on making sound, robust and fair decisions for New Zealanders.
Read full release >>3 July, 2008
Budget 08 to deliver redeveloped court for Gisborne
Funding in this year's Budget will allow for major redevelopment of the Gisborne courthouse and will pull together all the region's court functions under one roof.
Read full release >>30 June, 2008
Going now to local media Tender awarded for Whangarei Courthouse redevelopment
The redeveloped courthouse has been designed to meet the needs of the local community now and in the future.
Read full release >>24 June, 2008
Initiatives to improve court services in Auckland
The Auckland Service Delivery project aims to address workload pressures and capacity issues, and create a vision for the future delivery of services in Auckland.
Read full speech >>24 June, 2008
Initiatives to improve court services in Auckland
The government is committed to delivering first class court services in the nation's largest city and timely access to justice for all New Zealanders.
Read full release >>17 June, 2008
Construction on Invercargill court redevelopment begins
The new Invercargill courthouse will combine the old with the new to produce a modern, spacious, state of the art courthouse.
Read full release >>11 June, 2008
Statutory Interest Rate Changes
The new rate will be set at 8.4 per cent and will take effect from 1 July 2008. The rate is currently set at 7.5 per cent.
Read full release >>6 June, 2008
Criminal Procedure Bill gets a kickstart
The Bill is an important package of measures that seek to reform criminal procedures, especially around the depositions process and current double jeopardy laws.
Read full release >>2 June, 2008
Oral depositions place added stress on victims of crime
Recent media reports and public outcry have highlighted just how stressful the oral depositions process can be for the victims of crime.
Read full release >>22 May, 2008
Initiatives strengthen modern justice system
Budget 2008 provides a range of initiatives across the wider justice sector to strengthen the justice system and ensure that New Zealanders live in safe and responsive communities
Read full release >>19 May, 2008
Youth Court information resources improved
Youth Court is a serious court which is charged with ensuring there is accountability, resolution and restoration for young offenders, their families and victims.
Read full release >>29 April, 2008
Courts a priority for this government
Unlike the previous National government, we have invested heavily in the Courts and in Court infrastructure.
Read full release >>15 April, 2008
Barker seeks to extend government funded supervised contact
Supplementary Order Papers amending the Family Court Matters Bill have been tabled.
Read full release >>5 April, 2008
Boyracer Operation nets seven cars
The operation in Lower Hutt on 3 April saw Bailiffs seize seven cars for warrants for outstanding fines of over $20,000.
Read full release >>4 April, 2008
Hastings District Court contractor announced
Argon Construction Limited has been awarded the construction contract to build the Hastings courthouse.
Read full release >>4 April, 2008
Select Committee reports on Family Court Matters Bill
The Family Courts Matters Bill amends family law legislation to increase the openness of proceedings, provide for non-judicial mediation, and make other minor process and procedure changes designed to improve the operation of the Family Courts.
Read full release >>20 March, 2008
Barker responds to Turner's DNA Bill
The government will give careful consideration to the content of Judy Turner's Family Proceedings (Paternity Orders and Parentage Tests) Amendment Bill.
Read full release >>20 March, 2008
Stress free Easter means paying fines or reparation
People should think ahead. No one wants to get to an international airport and find they can’t leave the country because unpaid fines or reparation haven’t been sorted out.
Read full release >>6 March, 2008
Digital transcription technology introduced to the High Court
The evidence given at a recent high profile murder trial at Wellington High Court was transcribed using the new technology and this was a key factor in reducing the length of the trial from an expected eight weeks to four weeks.
Read full release >>4 February, 2008
Wilkinson paints half picture of Court security, draws wrong conclusions
The issue of Court security is a high priority for this Labour led Government and this is reflected in the fact that we have increased the number of Court security staff from 30 in 2003 to 53 in 2007.
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