COVID-19 Information

Protocols: What courts are doing during COVID-19 alert levels

Courts update and republish practice notes and protocols reflecting changes in alert levels.

Regular updates will continue to be made to this website and to the Courts of New Zealand Twitter account @CourtsofNZ.

Updated: 19 October 2020 (Court of Appeal COVID-19 Alert Level 1 and Alert Level 2 Protocol)

For the legal profession

For media and court participants

Media release from Chief Justice Winkelmann - Arrangements for courts of New Zealand 6 October 2020 (PDF, 409 KB)

Media release from Chief Justice Winkelmann - Court arrangements for the week beginning 28 September 2020 (PDF, 418 KB)

Media release from Chief Justice Winkelmann - Jury trials arrangement for the week beginning 21 September (PDF, 416 KB)

Media release from Chief Justice Winkelmann - Resumption of jury trials in Auckland from 7 September 2020 (PDF, 1 MB)

Date issued: 3 September 2020

Media release from Chief Justice Winkelmann - Masks in court from Monday 31 August 2020 (PDF, 138 KB)

Date issued: 28 August 2020

Media release from Chief Justice Winkelmann -  Jury trials for the week beginning 31 August 2020 (PDF, 122 KB)

Date issued: 27 August 2020

Media release from Chief Justice Winkelmann - Jury trials weeks beginning 17 and 24 August (PDF, 82 KB)

Date issued: 14 August 2020

Media release from Chief Justice Winkelmann - Update on jury trials (PDF 197 KB)

Date issued: 12 August 2020

Media release from Chief Justice Winkelmann - Temporary suspension of jury trials (PDF 191 KB)

Date issued: 11 August 2020

New District Court protocol for people arriving in isolation and quarantine

Practice note: Isolation and Quarantine
Date issued: 27 July 2020 (effective 8:00 am 29 July 2020)

Chief Justice Helen Winkelmann: "Major changes within court system must happen"

Transcript of RNZ National Nine to Noon interview with Chief Justice Helen Winkelmann (PDF, 96 KB)

Date: 17 June 2020

An updated guide for media on covering the District Court at Alert Level 1

District Court media guide update post COVID-19 (PDF 165 KB) 

Date issued: 15 June 2020

Media Release from Chief Justice Winkelmann

Chief Justice announces timetable for resumption of jury trials (PDF, 202 KB)

Date issued: 8 June 2020

New District Court protocol for public health order appeals

The Chief District Court Judge has issued a practice note setting out the process for appeals against a public health order issued under section 11 of the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020.  The practice note contains the filing address to be used.

Practice note: Public Health Order appeals

Date issued: 22 May 2020

COVID-19: Related judgments

This page identifies judgments from the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, and District Court that involve issues related to COVID-19. Many are related to alert level restrictions.

COVID-19: related judgments

Date issued: Updated as relevant judgments published.

Letter from Chief Justice Winkelmann

Operation of the courts under COVID-19 Alert Level 2 (PDF, 283 KB)

Date issued: 13 May 2020

Media Release from the Chief District Court Judge

The Chief District Court Judge has issued a new protocol to guide New Zealand’s biggest court as it continues to deliver an essential service during Alert Level 2 of the pandemic response.

New Protocol for the District Court at Alert Level 2 (PDF, 185 KB)

Date issued: 13 May 2020

Chief Justice Winkelmann says courts will publish revised practice notes and protocols in the event the Government announces an immediate or phased step-down to COVID-19 Alert Level 2.

Revised practice notes and protocols to be published for COVID-19 alert level 2 (PDF, 229 KB)

Date issued: 8 May 2020

Letter from Chief Justice Winkelmann

re  … the type and volume of work in the courts will continue to expand… The courts will be open to the public….however there will be limits on the numbers who can attend.

Operation of the courts under COVID-19 Alert Level 3 (PDF, 261 KB)

Date issued: 23 April 2020

Media release from Chief Justice Winkelmann

re  … the type and volume of work in the courts will continue to expand… The courts will be open to the public….however there will be limits on the numbers who can attend.

Operation of the courts under COVID-19 Alert Level 3 (PDF, 198 KB)

Date issued: 23 April 2020

District Court Practice Note: Civil proceedings — COVID-19 Preparedness

re  ... guidance as to the manner in which practitioners, parties, and other participants in the District Court can expect judges to use their power under s 24 to modify the applicable District Court Rules 2014 while the epidemic notice is in force ...

View Practice Note: Practice Note

Date issued: 23 April 2020

Guideline for media

The information in this Guide is intended to assist media reporting the courts during the COVID-19 alert levels. Please read this in conjunction with the existing rules and guidelines.

Guide for media reporting the courts under COVID-19 alert levels (PDF, 204 KB)

Date issued: 17 April 2020

Guidelines for District Court practitioners during period of Epidemic Notice

Regarding unsworn affidavits, Electronic Filing/Remote hearings, and Electronic Service.

Guidelines for Practitioners during period of Epidemic Notice

Date issued: 16 April 2020

Media release from Chief Justice Winkelmann

Changes to the operation of the courts entering the third week of COVID-19 alert level 4. How the courts will operate in the short and medium term under alert restrictions.

Update on operation of the courts under COVID-19 alert levels (PDF, 181 KB)

Letter from the Chief Justice Winkelmann

Operation of the courts under COVID-19 alert levels (PDF, 316 KB)

Date issued: 8 April 2020

Media releases from Chief District Court Judge Heemi Taumaunu

District Court website

Date issued: various

Changes to the High Court Rules 2016

The High Court Rules 2016 have been amended to ensure that civil justice remains accessible during the COVID-19 outbreak.  The Rules Committee has worked with the Ministry of Justice, the profession, and the judiciary to achieve this, and have produced a summary of key provisions.

High Court (COVID-19 Preparedness) Amendment Rules 2020

Summary of key provisions

Media briefing with the Chief Justice and Heads of Bench

Before:

Chief Justice The Right Hon Dame Helen Winkelmann
The Hon Justice Cooper
The Hon Justice Miller
Chief High Court Judge
The Hon Justice Venning
Chief District Court Judge Taumaunu

Held at Auckland High Court.

Transcript (PDF, 173 KB)

Date of briefing: 3 April 2020

March letters to the profession from Chief Justice Winkelmann

26 March 2020: Limitation on members of the public entering courthouses during COVID-19 Alert Level 4 (PDF, 161 KB)

25 March 2020: Court operations at Alert Level 4 (PDF, 213 KB)

23 March 2020: Rise to Alert Level 4 - Eliminate on Wednesday at 11:59 pm (PDF, 255 KB)

22 March 2020: COVID-19 Arrangements for New Zealand courts following the Prime Minister's statement (PDF, 222 KB)

18 March 2020: COVID-19 Suspension of new jury trials (PDF, 181 KB)

13 March 2020: Planning for possible effects of a COVID-19 outbreak on court business (PDF, 186 KB)

March media releases from Chief Justice Winkelmann

26 March 2020: Limitations on public access to courthouses (PDF, 182 KB)

25 March 2020: Note from Chief Justice Winkelmann (PDF, 155 KB)

23 March 2020: Rise to Level 4 Alert - Eliminate on Wednesday at 11:59 pm (PDF, 226 KB)

22 March 2020: Alert Level 3 rising to Level 4 - Eliminate (PDF, 179 KB)

18 March 2020: New jury trials will be suspended (PDF, 134 KB)