COVID-19 Information
Protocols: What courts are doing during COVID-19 alert levelsCourts 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) |
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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) |
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Media release from Chief Justice Winkelmann - Court arrangements for the week beginning 28 September 2020 (PDF, 418 KB) |
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Media release from Chief Justice Winkelmann - Jury trials arrangement for the week beginning 21 September (PDF, 416 KB) |
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Media release from Chief Justice Winkelmann - Resumption of jury trials in Auckland from 7 September 2020 (PDF, 1 MB) Date issued: 3 September 2020 |
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Media release from Chief Justice Winkelmann - Masks in court from Monday 31 August 2020 (PDF, 138 KB) Date issued: 28 August 2020 |
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Media release from Chief Justice Winkelmann - Jury trials for the week beginning 31 August 2020 (PDF, 122 KB) Date issued: 27 August 2020 |
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Media release from Chief Justice Winkelmann - Jury trials weeks beginning 17 and 24 August (PDF, 82 KB) Date issued: 14 August 2020 |
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Media release from Chief Justice Winkelmann - Update on jury trials (PDF 197 KB) Date issued: 12 August 2020 |
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Media release from Chief Justice Winkelmann - Temporary suspension of jury trials (PDF 191 KB) Date issued: 11 August 2020 |
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New District Court protocol for people arriving in isolation and quarantinePractice note: Isolation and Quarantine |
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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 |
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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 |
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Letter from Chief Justice Winkelmann COVID-19 - movement to Alert Level 1 (PDF, 193 KB) Date issued: 8 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 appealsThe 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 |
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COVID-19: Related judgmentsThis 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. Date issued: Updated as relevant judgments published. |
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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 JudgeThe 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 |
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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 Preparednessre ... 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 mediaThe 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 NoticeRegarding 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) Date issued: 8 April 2020 |
Letter from the Chief Justice Winkelmann
Operation of the courts under COVID-19 alert levels (PDF, 316 KB) Date issued: 8 April 2020
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Media releases from Chief District Court Judge Heemi TaumaunuDate issued: various |
Changes to the High Court Rules 2016The 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. |
Media briefing with the Chief Justice and Heads of BenchBefore: Chief Justice The Right Hon Dame Helen Winkelmann 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 Winkelmann26 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) |
Related pages
Ministry of Justice - Participating in a virtual meeting room court hearing
Attending a remote courts hearing
Courts of New Zealand website
Judgments of Public Interest (JPI) and Supreme Court Decisions
Subscribe to receive a notification when a JPI is added to the website
District Court information
The District Court During COVID-19 Pandemic Response Period
Ministry of Justice website
Health and Safety factsheeet during COVID-19 Alert Level 1 (PDF, 85.6 KB)
Health and Safety factsheet during COVID-19 Alert Level 2 (PDF, 88.5 KB)
Ministry of Justice COVID-19 information hub