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The number of people facing charges in court has fallen to the lowest level in a decade, Justice Minister Judith Collins announced today.

The latest Conviction and Sentencing Statistics show 95,429 people were prosecuted in court in 2012/13 - 7 per cent less than in 2011/12, and 24 per cent lower than the peak four years ago.  In 2011/12 there were 102,530 people prosecuted and in 2009/10 there were 125,017 prosecutions.

ACC Minister Judith Collins is welcoming the Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council’s plans for several projects over the coming months to reduce the injury rate of motorcyclists.

Ms Collins met with Chair of the Motorcycle Safety Advisory Council Mark Gilbert recently to discuss the Council’s upcoming projects.

“I’m pleased the Council will commence several large scale projects over the next 18 months to benefit motorcycle owners,” Ms Collins says.

Justice Minister Judith Collins says the passing of The Family Court Proceedings Reform Bill’s third reading in Parliament today marks a significant milestone for New Zealand’s justice system.

“Our reforms put the needs of children and vulnerable people first to ensure the Family Court focuses on those who need it most,” Ms Collins says.

“We’re supporting people to resolve care of children matters out of court where possible, to free up the court to focus on more serious cases, and the needs of the most vulnerable.

Justice Minister Judith Collins has today announced the Government’s new youth crime target – to reduce youth offending by 25 per cent by 2017.

Ms Collins says the earlier, interim five per cent target has been exceeded. From June 2011 to June 2013 youth crime dropped 19 per cent.

“Huge effort has gone into targeting youth offending and keeping young people from going before the courts, and it’s paying off,” Ms Collins says. 

Justice Minister Judith Collins welcomes the Electoral Commission’s plans to mark the 120th anniversary of women gaining the right to vote in New Zealand.

“On this day in September 1893, New Zealand became the first country in the world where women won the right to vote,” Ms Collins says.

“Today we encourage eligible voters to use the very rights the suffragettes fought for.”

Justice Minister Judith Collins says the most significant changes to New Zealand’s Family Court in thirty years are one step closer to becoming law.

Ms Collins says the Family Court Proceedings Reform Bill, which passed its Committee of the Whole House reading in Parliament today, puts children and vulnerable people first.

“This Bill aims to ensure a modern, accessible and sustainable family justice system – a system that supports children and vulnerable people who most need the Family Court’s protection,” Ms Collins says. 

A Bill to protect New Zealanders from the most serious sexual or violent offenders passed its first reading in Parliament today.

Justice Minister Judith Collins says the Public Safety (Public Protection Orders) Bill will introduce public protection orders (PPOs) – a new order that could detain the most high-risk individuals after they are released from jail.

“These new orders deliver this Government’s commitment to keeping the public protected from the most serious sexual and violent offenders,” Ms Collins says. 

A new agreement between New Zealand and the United States will help detect and deter criminals who try to operate internationally, Justice Minister Judith Collins says.

The Agreement on Enhancing Cooperation in Preventing and Combating Crime supports New Zealand’s security against cross-border criminal activities, particularly organised crime and terrorism.

“Increasingly, criminal activity spans international borders, requiring close cooperation between law enforcement and immigration agencies around the world,” Ms Collins says.

A Bill proposing change to electoral law in time for the 2014 General Election has passed its first reading in Parliament today.

ACC Minister Judith Collins is welcoming the announcement that the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) is looking into dropping its average levy rates.

Today ACC starts its public consultation on levy rates for levies in the upcoming 2014/15 year.

Earlier this year, Ms Collins signalled $300 million worth of levy cuts for taxpayers for 2014/15. 

“These levy cuts reflect positive gains made by the corporation across all its activities,” Ms Collins says. 

Justice Minister Judith Collins and Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss have today announced the Government’s response to the Law Commission’s report on regulation of news media.

The report, The News Media Meets “New Media”: Rights, Responsibilities and Regulation in the Digital Age, considered how unregulated news media could be regulated and/or if our current regulatory bodies should be extended to cover media such as blogs.

Justice Minister Judith Collins has today welcomed a Law Commission report into trust law.

The report outlines recommendations from the first stage of a comprehensive review by the Law Commission into New Zealand’s law on trusts.

“It’s estimated there are between 300,000 and 500,000 trusts in New Zealand, containing a significant amount of wealth. It’s therefore important to ensure trust law meets the needs of those involved,” Ms Collins says.

Justice Minister Judith Collins today announced the release of the expressions of interest tender for the main contractor for the Christchurch Justice and Emergency Services Precinct.

“The Government’s investment in a project of this scale, which is likely to be in the hundreds of millions, will be a huge boost to Canterbury’s recovery,” Ms Collins says.

“The release of the request for expressions of interest will be much anticipated and welcome news to the construction sector.”

Justice Minister Judith Collins has today announced restorative justice services will be expanded and rolled out to all courts in New Zealand.

An additional 2,400 restorative justice conferences – totalling 3,600 in 2014/15 – follow the Government’s $4.4 million investment in adult pre-sentence restorative justice as part of Budget 2013.

Ms Collins says investing in pre-sentence restorative justice will help deliver results, give victims a voice in the justice system and make victims strong.

Justice Minister Judith Collins today announced the appointment of the four political nominees on the Representation Commission.

The Commission is responsible for determining the number of electoral districts in New Zealand and fixing the boundaries for those electorates.

“The Government’s representatives will be Hon Roger Sowry and, for the Māori electoral boundaries, Daniel Te Kanawa,” Ms Collins says.

“Representing the Opposition parties will be Hon Pete Hodgson and, for the Māori electoral boundaries, Whetu Wereta.”

A draft report outlining New Zealand’s torture prevention efforts has been released for public consultation today by Justice Minister Judith Collins.

“This report is a key part of our commitment to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, a core international human rights treaty,” Ms Collins says.

“It’s important New Zealand engages with international bodies like the UN Committee Against Torture so that we maintain our reputation as a strong advocate of human rights.”

A Bill creating a new order to protect victims of serious violent and sexual offences passed its first reading in Parliament today.

Justice Minister Judith Collins says the Victims’ Orders Against Violent Offenders Bill creates a new non-contact order to help reduce the likelihood of serious violent and sexual offenders coming into contact with their victims.

A Bill that makes it harder for serious offenders to get bail has passed its third and final reading in Parliament today.

Justice Minister Judith Collins says the Bail Amendment Bill delivers this Government’s commitment to review aspects of the bail system to improve New Zealanders’ safety.

“This Government promised it would review our bail laws to make New Zealand safer and protect the public,” Ms Collins says.

“The Bail Amendment Bill delivers our commitment to putting victims at the heart of our criminal justice system.”

Justice Minister Judith Collins has today introduced the Electoral Amendment Bill to improve the efficiency and enhance the integrity of New Zealand’s electoral process.

Ms Collins says the Bill, proposing a number of changes to electoral law, implements many recommendations made by the Justice and Electoral Select Committee’s Inquiry into the 2011 General Election.

Marking the start of Islam Awareness Week, Ethnic Affairs Minister Judith Collins has today announced plans are underway for an official Muslim forum to be held in November.

A draft report on the current position of New Zealand’s human rights has been released for public comment by Justice Minister Judith Collins.

The United Nations Human Rights Council reviews the human rights record of every UN member state once every four and half years as part of its Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

“New Zealand has a strong track record of human rights and our efforts in this area reflect global practice to which many nations aspire,” Ms Collins says. 

The Government’s Drivers of Crime programme continues to make excellent progress in reducing offending and supporting victims, a new progress report released today by Justice Minister Judith Collins and Māori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples shows.

Launched in December 2009, Drivers of Crime coordinates the crime prevention work of the justice and social sector agencies to tackle the underlying causes of crime.

Justice Minister Judith Collins says reports suggesting the Government could issue an immediate pardon to Mr Teina Pora are wrong.

"There would need to be a thorough evaluation of Mr Pora's application for the Royal prerogative of mercy, and that cannot take place alongside his application for leave to appeal to the Privy Council," Ms Collins says.

Justice Minister Judith Collins has received advice from officials regarding calls to re-examine the Teina Pora case.

Concerns have been raised about the convictions of Mr Pora in 1994 and again in 2000 for the rape and murder of Susan Burdett.

Mr Pora was convicted at a retrial in 2000 and an appeal against conviction heard by the Court of Appeal was unsuccessful.