An independent and impartial judiciary

Contents:

Judicial leadership

Heads of Bench Committee

Judicial committees: Critical to the administration of justice

“The courts are a critical expression of our society’s commitment to the rule of law. They allow people to come to court to argue for, or defend, their rights. They do so in a hearing that occurs in accordance with procedural rules designed to ensure it is fair.

"The hearing occurs in front of an independent judge who will impartially, and with skill and diligence, resolve the issue through the delivery of a reasoned judgment.”

CHIEF JUSTICE HELEN WINKELMANN

Judicial leadership

The Chief Justice is the head of the judiciary and the judicial branch of government. She is also the head of the Supreme Court of New Zealand.

All courts within New Zealand’s court system are headed by a Chief Judge or President who has statutory responsibility for the business of their court or courts.

The Chief Justice is the principal spokesperson for the judiciary and the principal point of interface between the judiciary and the executive branch of government. She is ultimately responsible under the Senior Courts Act 2016 for the orderly and efficient conduct of the business of the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

The heads of bench as at 31 December 2024 were:

Heads of Bench Committee

Together, the heads of bench form the Heads of Bench Committee. Chaired by the Chief Justice, this committee is the key decision-making body for the judicial branch of government in relation to matters of judicial administration. The committee works collectively to promote access to justice, preserve the judiciary for Aotearoa New Zealand, and deliver effective and efficient justice through the courts. It is made up of the chief and principal judges of each of the courts, the Principal Disputes Tribunal Referee and the Chief Judge of the Court Martial, and is supported by senior judicial office officials.

The committee’s areas of focus include:

• Access to justice: Improving public access to the courts, ensuring that courtrooms and workspaces are inclusive, and exploring how technology can be used to enhance access to justice.
• Connection of courts to the community: Maintaining a physical connection of courts to the community, and understanding the communities served by the courts.
• Judicial support and courts resourcing: Advocating for judicial resources and court facilities that are appropriate for workloads. Judicial leaders take an active role in championing improvements to, and innovation in, the courts operating model. Effective and efficient courts also require continuing education for judges, and judicial leadership training – see "judicial education" for more information.
• Improving public understanding of the role of the courts in a well-functioning democracy – see Part 4 for more on open justice initiatives.

An important issue for the Heads of Bench Committee this year is the appropriate use of technology in the courts and in particular the use of technology to enable remote participation in the courts. Protocols have been developed following consultation with the profession, Ministry of Justice, and the wider justice sector outlining when remote participation is appropriate. See Part 3 for more information.

Judicial committees: Critical to the administration of justice

Committees plan and deliver initiatives that improve the administration of justice. Some committees are made up of judges only and operate under the oversight of the Heads of Bench Committee. Others are joint committees with the Ministry of Justice (such as the CSPG, see previous section). Still others involve the broader community or sector groups such as the media in the Media and Courts Committee. The full list is available at Appendix 2. Their work is described in this report under the initiatives they are responsible for.