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Courts Minister Chester Borrows today welcomed the resumption of the online publication of key Disputes Tribunal decisions.

“My number one goal as Minister for Courts has been to bring our courts and tribunals into the 21st century, and putting Disputes Tribunal decisions back online is another step on that journey,” says Mr Borrows.

Corrections Minister Anne Tolley and Courts Minister Chester Borrows today welcomed the new audio visual link (AVL) connection linking New Plymouth Court with Whanganui Prison.

The new link is the first in a $27.8 million upgrade programme, which is expanding AVL links from the current four courts and four prisons to a total of 18 courts and 13 prisons by 2015.

Mrs Tolley says around 40,000 remand court appearances are made each year nationwide, and AVL will be used for more and more of those appearances as the rollout continues.

Greater certainty around court scheduling will give parties more clarity as to their court dates and improve the way we use our court and judicial resources, says Courts Minister Chester Borrows.

“A court case can’t proceed without everyone present – lawyers, defendants, witnesses and a judge – and too often this results in delays in cases getting to court and courtrooms sitting idle,” says Mr Borrows.

“It takes too long to get a case through our criminal courts, and any unnecessary delay should not go unchecked.”

Courts Minister Chester Borrows says that the Government is determined to deliver a modern, electronic court.

“Transitioning our courts from their antiquated, paper-bound way of working into a modern, electronic model is a huge challenge that offers huge benefits for a faster court system,” says Mr Borrows.

“We’ve already made significant progress, with more and more court services now available online.  We’ve also learnt a lot about what we need, and what better technology can give us.

Courts Minister Chester Borrows will this week represent New Zealand at the Sixth Bali Democracy Forum, hosted by the Government of Indonesia.

The Forum will bring together Heads of State and ministers from 28 countries from around the world to discuss ways to strengthen democratic institutions across the region.

“New Zealand has a strong democratic history that is more than just a set of laws, but an integral part of our Kiwi culture,” says Mr Borrows.

Further improvements to make the coronial system clearer and easier for families were announced today by Courts Minister Chester Borrows.

The changes make it easier for the public to find out how coroners are appointed and how possible conflicts of interest are managed, improve sensitivity in the way families are consulted if tissue samples need to be retained following a post-mortem examination, and clarify when deaths of New Zealanders overseas need to be reported to a New Zealand coroner.

Courts Minister Chester Borrows will depart for the United Kingdom today to address the Restorative Justice Council’s Annual General Meeting.

“Restorative justice is a growing field in responding to crime, with huge benefits for the victim and for society,” says Mr Borrows.

“The Restorative Justice Council’s AGM will be a great opportunity to share ideas and experiences with our international colleagues.”

Another strong year for court collections has driven the level of fines and reparations owed to their lowest level in almost a decade, Courts Minister Chester Borrows announced today.

Courts Minister Chester Borrows has welcomed the return of jury trials to Dunedin with the temporary Dunedin Court complex in High Street set to open on Monday.

Parts of the Dunedin Courthouse were closed in December 2011 after a seismic assessment raised concerns about the building’s safety. Since the closure, jury trials have been held in Invercargill, while some court services operated out of John Wickliffe House and the former CIB building in Dunbar St.

The Law Commission will review the rules governing the media’s reporting of suicide, Courts Minister Chester Borrows said today.

The Coroners Act 2006 currently restricts the information that can be made public about a self-inflicted death without the authorisation of the coroner.  Concern that some aspects of the restrictions are unclear was raised during the recent review of the Coroners Act.

“Media reporting of suicides is a delicate subject, and there are strong views as to the benefits and risks it can carry,” says Mr Borrows.

Major changes to the way courts operate from today will make them work better for people, by reducing unnecessary delay and allowing modern technology to be used, says Courts Minister Chester Borrows.

The changes, part of the Criminal Procedure Act, which passed with near unanimous support in Parliament in 2011, represent the largest overhaul of criminal procedure in 50 years.

Improvements to the coronial system, announced today following a targeted review of coroners, will make the process faster and more effective, says Courts Minister Chester Borrows.

The changes include improving coroners’ recommendations by making their scope more focused, strengthening the role of the Chief Coroner to improve timeliness and consistency in the system, and reducing effort spent on cases where a coronial investigation or inquest is unnecessary.

Courts Minister Chester Borrows officially reopened the Masterton courthouse today following a $3.5 million refurbishment and strengthening project.

“I want to acknowledge the support from our staff, the judiciary, local government, lawyers, Police and Corrections staff and other court users for their patience and support since we were forced to close the court,” Mr Borrows says.

Corrections Minister Anne Tolley and Courts Minister Chester Borrows have announced that safety and security is being enhanced with the expansion of audio-visual links (AVL) to a further 14 District Courts and nine prisons, allowing more prisoners to make court appearances while physically remaining inside the wire.

The $27.8 million expansion will take place over the next two years, with connected courts able to link with connected prisons anywhere in the country. 

An initiative to speed up the time it takes to get urgent Family Court applications in front of judges has been rolled out to all Family Courts across the country.

Courts Minister Chester Borrows says the initiative, called e-Duty, links judges around the country so that an e-Duty judge can immediately review and decide on urgent applications to the Family Court for things like orders to protect children or vulnerable people.

The Criminal Procedure Legislation Bill, passed unanimously by Parliament this evening, will ensure the upcoming criminal procedure reforms can be given their full effect when they come into force on 1 July, says Courts Minister Chester Borrows.

“The reforms contained in the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 represent the most significant reform of criminal procedure in 50 years. They will simplify and streamline court process and speed up the time it takes for cases resolved,” says Mr Borrows.

Changes to civil court and tribunal fees will ensure those who benefit from the courts contribute to their costs while protecting access to justice, Courts Minister Chester Borrows says.

The new regime, released today and coming into effect from 1 July 2013, is the result of a first principles review of civil court fees started in 2011.  The review was designed to update civil court and tribunal fees in a way that is principled, simple, reflects the private benefit received by court users, and protects access to justice.

Minister for Courts Chester Borrows this week launched a pilot scheme that will place some defendants at the centre of criminal court proceedings to better involve them in the process.

The two-year pilot will be held at the North Shore District Court and will explore how the defendant's level of understanding and engagement is affected by bringing them to centre of proceedings, rather than in a dock to the side of the courtroom.

Introduction

Let me begin by extending my thanks to Auckland District Law Society President Frank Godinet for having me here to address you this evening. Greetings to you, and also to your distinguished guests.

It’s an honour to be here today speaking to a group of New Zealanders that play such a critical role in our justice system.

I want to start by saying that as Minister for Courts and Associate Minister of Justice I am grateful for your work. And I’m proud of the justice system that your work supports.