All criminal proceedings in New Zealand begin in the District Court. Only the most serious offences are referred to the High Court, and all others are dealt with entirely in the District Court.
Set out here are annual statistics for the District Court, including the Family Court, Youth Court, and civil jurisdiction for the 2020-2021 Fiscal year (ending 30 June 2021).
The Family Court and Youth Court are divisions of the District Court. In its civil jurisdiction, the District Court can hear general claims up to $350,000.
The right to trial by jury is protected in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. Jury trials are reserved for more serious crimes, and a defendant has the right to elect a jury trial when he or she is charged with an offence punishable by a maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment or more. In a jury trial, 12 members of the community rather than a judge decide whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty. The jury trial caseload is made up almost entirely of cases brought under the Criminal Procedure Act 2011.
Jury trial statistics are recorded by number of cases rather than people because each case may involve several charges or people. The figures do not capture the underlying complexity and time taken to deal with jury trials.
At a national level, comparing the 2020/2021 fiscal year with 2019/2020, there has been a:
The increase in serious offending now before the courts (Category 3 charges) has subsequently increased the complexity and time taken to deal with jury trials.
The criminal jurisdiction makes up the largest proportion of the District Court's work. Most defendants will go through the entire justice process in a District Court, from first appearance until sentencing (if they are convicted), whether they plead guilty or not.
Criminal statistics are recorded by number of cases rather than people because each case may involve several charges or people.
At a national level, comparing the 2020/2021 fiscal year to 2019/2020, there has been a:
The Youth Court deals with offending by young people aged 14–17 years and may deal with younger children, aged 12–13 years, in certain serious circumstances.
About 20–30% of children apprehended by Police come to the Youth Court. The rest are managed by Police Youth Aid and the Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki. With a few exceptions, the Youth Court can hear and determine all charges against young people.
Youth Court statistics are recorded by number of cases rather than young people because each case may involve several charges or young people.
At a national level, comparing the 2020/2021 fiscal year with 2019/2020, there has been an:
The Family Court is the second biggest division of the District Court. Working under 36 Acts of Parliament, its jurisdiction spans family matters from before birth to beyond the grave. These may relate to separation, marriage dissolution, spousal maintenance and child support, care and protection, adoption, surrogacy, custody, abduction, domestic violence and disputes about relationship property and estates of deceased people.
The Court also deals with care and treatment issues for people with mental illness, intellectual disabilities and substance addictions held in compulsory care.
Family Court statistics are recorded by number of applications rather than cases or people because each case may involve several applications or people.
Defended applications are disputed matters that are proceeding to a hearing and are included in the figures below.
At a national level, all application types are grouped together and comparing the 2020/2021 fiscal year with 2019/2020, there has been a:
Undefended applications are undisputed matters that are resolved without proceeding to hearing and are included in the figures below.
At a national level, all application types are grouped together and comparing the 2020/2021 fiscal year with 2019/2020, there has been a:
The civil jurisdiction of the District Court resolves disputes between individuals or organisations. A person who feels they have been wronged may bring a claim and, if successful, be awarded a remedy, such as compensation. The District Court may hear claims up to a value of $350,000.
Defended civil cases in the District Court are disputed matters that are normally resolved by proceeding to hearing and are included in the figures below.
At a national level, comparing the 2020/2021 fiscal year to 2019/2020, there has been a:
Most civil cases in the District Court civil system are undisputed (also known as undefended), and are resolved without proceeding to hearing and are included in the figures below.
At a national level, comparing the 2020/2021 fiscal year to 2019/2020, there has been a:
Annual statistics for the District Court, including the Family Court, Youth Court, and civil jurisdiction for the 2020-2021 year as a spreadsheet:
This website explains many of the things you might want to know if you are coming to the Youth Court, or just wondering how the Youth Court works.
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Ministry of Justice website with information on family issues including about going to court, forms and other times when you may need help.
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For information about courts and tribunals, including going to court, finding a court & collection of fines and reparation.
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On this site you will find information about our Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court including recent decisions, daily lists and news.
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