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Courts Minister Amy Adams and ACC Minister Nikki Kaye have today announced further consultation on the proposed Accident Compensation Appeal Tribunal.

“The Government agreed in April 2014 to establish a new Accident Compensation Appeal Tribunal to replace two existing appeals bodies. The proposal was part of a package of reforms aimed at updating and modernising the justice system. The new tribunal process is expected to be faster, while still maintaining a fair process, and will have greater flexibility in resourcing,” Ms Adams says.

The Dunedin Courthouse has become the eighteenth court to connect to the audio-visual link (AVL) network, Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams has announced.

Dunedin becomes the final court to hook into the technology in a $27.8 million upgrade and expansion of AVL links throughout New Zealand. There are also 13 prisons online.

Ms Adams says the technology allows prisoners and defendants remanded in custody to appear in the court without leaving jail, increasing safety and security for the public and court users.

New Zealanders are seeing huge improvements in the time it takes to access justice services with a big reduction in the average age of District Court criminal cases, Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams announced.

As at the end of December 2014, there was a nationwide reduction of 21.5 per cent in the average age of criminal cases since April 2013 – with an average time of 99 days for active cases.

The number of young people (aged 10 to 16 years old) appearing in court has more than halved since 2007, Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams announced today.

The latest Conviction and Sentencing and Child and Youth Prosecution Statistics for 2014 show the number of children and adults facing charges in courts is decreasing.

“More than 400 fewer young people appeared in court than in 2013. This is the lowest point in more than 20 years and more than 50 per cent lower than its peak in 2007,” says Ms Adams.

A new youth court for Tauranga will place a stronger focus on addressing offending by young Māori says Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams.



Ms Adams today spoke at the opening of the Rangatahi Court at Hairini Marae in Tauranga. 


The Rangatahi Courts, a judiciary-led initiative, were established in 2008 to provide a better rehabilitative response to Māori young offenders by encouraging strong cultural links and involving communities in the youth justice process. The Tauranga court is the thirteenth to open.



Tena koutou nga Iwi o Tauranga moana nei (Greetings/salutations to you all the tribes of this area - Tauranga )

Ngai te Rangi     Ngai te Rangi (one of the Iwi)

Ngati Ranginui   Ngati Ranginui (one of the Iwi)

Ngati Pukenga   Ngati Pukenga (one of the Iwi).

Taku mihi tenei   ki a koutou katoa          (This is my acknowledgment to you all.)

Justice and Courts Minister Amy Adams has welcomed the addition of the Gisborne courthouse to the audio visual link (AVL) network that connects courts and prisons.

The new link is the latest in a $27.8 million upgrade and expansion of AVL links to a total of 17 courts and 13 prisons. The installation of AVL into the Dunedin courthouse is expected to be completed by May.

A Bill to speed up justice and modernise New Zealand’s courts has passed its second reading in Parliament today.

Justice Minister Amy Adams says the Judicature Modernisation Bill supports the Government’s commitment to delivering a 21^st Century justice system.

“New Zealand has a strong, well-functioning justice system. However society and technology are changing rapidly and it’s increasingly clear that it must be modernised if it is to deliver in a 21^st century world,” says Ms Adams.

A Government initiative which threatens loss of licence over unpaid fines has brought in an extra $20.4 million since its introduction one year ago, Justice Minister Amy Adams has announced.

Driver Licence Stop Orders (DLSOs) can be placed on anyone who fails to pay traffic-related fines imposed by a Court, Police or local government authority – or reparations imposed by a Court for traffic-related offences.

The $300 million Christchurch Justice precinct has reached a key milestone with the final concrete pour and the installation of the first cranes.

Justice Minister Amy Adams today inspected the build site of the new Justice and Emergency Services Precinct alongside Prime Minister John Key.

The state-of-the-art precinct will be home to the Ministry of Justice, New Zealand Police, Department of Corrections, NZ Fire Service, St John, local and regional civil defence and emergency management teams, and the judiciary.