District Court of New Zealand
District Court of New Zealand | |
---|---|
Te Kōti ā Rohe ( Magistrates' courts in 1893) | |
Composition method | Appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Attorney-General |
Authorized by | District Court Act 2016 |
Appeals to | High Court of New Zealand, Court of Appeal of New Zealand |
Judge term length | until age 70 (District Court Act 2016, s 28) |
Number of positions | 133 |
Website | districtcourts.govt.nz |
Chief District Court Judge | |
Currently | Heemi Taumaunu[1] |
Since | 25 September 2019 |
New Zealand portal |
The District Court of New Zealand (
The court was established in 1980 to replace
In 2011, the
Jurisdiction
The jurisdiction of the District Court derives from the District Court Act 2016, which provides that the District Court can hear both criminal and civil proceedings.
The District Court's criminal jurisdiction is busier and arguably broader than any other court. Over 95% of all criminal trials, including jury trials on all but the most serious matters are heard in the District Court. Within its jurisdiction are offences ranging from very serious offending such as rape, aggravated robbery, and sexual violation down to minor offences such as disorderly behaviour. The only charges that cannot be heard by the District Court are category 4 offences, such as murder, manslaughter and crimes against the state (e.g. treason). The District Court cannot sentence a person to life imprisonment or to preventive detention; such cases require a transfer to the High Court for sentencing.
The District Court's civil jurisdiction allows the court to hear any matter where the amount in dispute is $350,000 or less. Civil claims where the amount is $30,000 or less are usually heard by the Disputes Tribunal rather than the District Court. Civil claims involve arguments over money and property and can include complex commercial transactions.[7]
The District Court can hear appeals from some tribunals and authorities, including the Disputes Tribunal, Tenancy Tribunal and Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) external review hearings.[7]
Judges
There are 133 District Court judges, including the Chief District Court Judge. Judges are permanently based in the main centres, but travel to other courts on circuit. While each District Court judge can preside over minor criminal matters, they each specialise in particular aspects of the District Court's jurisdiction, either jury trials, family or youth.[10]
Chief District Court judges
The following is a list of chief District Court judges since 1980.
Name | Portrait | Term of office | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Desmond Sullivan | 1980 | 1985 | |
2 | Peter Trapski | 1985 | 1989 | |
3 | Silvia Cartwright | 1989 | 1993 | |
4 | Ron Young | 1993 | 2001 | |
5 | David Carruthers | 2001 | 2005 | |
6 | Russell Johnson | 2005 | 2011 | |
7 | Jan-Marie Doogue | 2011 | 2019 | |
8 | Heemi Taumaunu | 2019 | Incumbent |
Locations
- District Court centres conducting jury trials
- District Court centres conducting judge-alone trials only
- Alexandra
- Ashburton
- Chatham Islands
- Dannevirke
- Gore
- Hastings
- Hāwera
- Huntly
- Hutt Valley
- Kaitaia
- Levin
- Masterton
- Morrinsville
- North Shore
- Papakura
- Porirua
- Pukekohe
- Queenstown
- Taihape
- Taumarunui
- Taupō
- Thames
- Tokoroa
- Wairoa
- Waitākere District Court, located at Henderson
- Westport
- Whakatane
- Hearings-only locations
These locations are only open for hearings and trials. Their registry locations are noted in brackets.
- Dargaville (Whangarei)
- Kaikōura (Blenheim)
- Marton (Whanganui)
- Oamaru (Timaru)
- Ohakune (Whanganui)
- Opotiki(Whakatane)
- Ruatoria (Gisborne)
- Te Awamutu (Hamilton)
- Te Kūiti (Hamilton)
- Waihi (Thames)
- Waipukurau (Hastings)
References
- ^ "Chief District Court Judge appointed".
- ^ Joseph, Philip A.; Joseph, Thomas (20 June 2012). "Judicial system". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
- ^ Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (NZ) s 73 http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2011/0081/latest/DLM3360137.html
- ^ "District Courts Act 1947" (PDF). New Zealand Legislation. Parliamentary Council Office, New Zealand. Retrieved 9 May 2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Darise Bennington, "Judiciary bereft at sudden loss of Chief District Court Judge", NZ Lawyer, 29 July 2011, p 1.
- ^ "History of the District Court". Courts of New Zealand. Ministry of Justice, New Zealand. Archived from the original on 10 May 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
- ^ a b "Jurisdiction of the District Court". Courts of New Zealand. Ministry of Justice, New Zealand. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- .
- ^ "Matariki Court". The District Court of New Zealand. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ "Role & Structure". Courts of New Zealand. Ministry of Justice, New Zealand. Archived from the original on 10 May 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
Further reading
- M McDowell; D Webb (March 2006). The New Zealand Legal System: Structures and Processes (4th ed.). Wellington, New Zealand: ISBN 0-408-71839-0.