Protocols: What courts are doing during COVID-19 alert levels
The Prime Minister has announced the alert level for COVID-19 in New Zealand is to move from Level 3 - Restrict to Level 2 - Reduce on Wednesday 13 May at 11:59 pm. Courts continued to operate under Alert Level 3 until Monday 18 May 2020.
Courts continue to expand the range of work they undertake. Measures are in place to ensure that proceedings are conducted safely. Physical distancing and cleaning regimes continue to play important roles. Please refer to the protocols below for specific information about how each court is operating during Alert Level 2.
Regular updates will continue to be made to this website and to the Courts of New Zealand Twitter account @CourtsofNZ.
Current protocols
The links below contain information issued by each court about how they are operating under COVID-19 Alert Level 2. Unless otherwise stated, information is effective from 11:59 pm on 17 May 2020.
Supreme Court and Court of Appeal Remote Hearings Protocol
Supreme Court
Court of Appeal
High Court Remote Hearings Protocol
High Court
District Court
(including Family Court and Youth Court)
District Court Practice Note: Public Health Order Appeals
District Court Civil Practice Note
Employment Court
Māori Land Court
Waitangi Tribunal
Environment Court
Coroners Court
Court Martial and Summary Appeal Court
Past protocols
Alert Level 3
Effective 11:59 pm 27 April 2020 to 11:59 pm 17 May 2020
Alert Level 4
Effective 11:59 pm 25 March 2020 to 11:59 pm 27 April 2020