High Court - criminal trial case volumes - for the 12 months ending 31 December 2020

Registry   New business Disposals Total active
Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau 42 29 60
Whangarei Whangārei-terenga-parāoa 11 9 11
Rotorua Te Rotorua-nui-a-Kahumatamomoe 21 18 25
Hamilton Kirikiriroa 10 10 13
Wellington Te Whanganui-a-Tara 9 4 9
Napier Ahuriri 1 3 2
Palmerston North Te Papaioea 5 3 5
Whanganui Whanganui 5 2 6
Gisborne Tūranganui-a-Kiwa 4 1 2
New Plymouth Ngāmotu 3 1 2
Nelson Whakatū 4 4 2
Blenheim Te Waiharakeke 0 0 1
Christchurch Ōtautahi 20 23 16
Timaru Te Tihi-o-Maru 0 2 1
Dunedin Ōtepoti 6 2 7
Invercargill Waihōpai 8 2 7
Greymouth Māwhera 0 0 1
Total High Courts   149 113 170


Definitions

New business

HC criminal trials

New business includes cases arriving in High Court for trial, cases where a retrial has been directed, split cases and cases transferred into the High Court under s 70 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 and s 86D of the Sentencing Act 2002 (3rd strike cases - in effect at the time).

Disposals at completion of sentencing or earlier outcome

HC criminal trials

Disposals are counted at the completion of sentencing, or at an earlier final outcome. Cases are disposed when sentencing or final outcomes are established on all charges, or when all active charges are joined into another case.
Disposals are recorded in the categories of: Convicted and Sentenced, Found Not Guilty, Convicted and Discharged, Discharged Section 147, Not Proceeded With, Joined and Other Outcome.

Total active cases - all cases awaiting substantive hearing, verdict/plea, awaiting sentencing or final outcome

HC criminal trials

Active cases are those cases that are proceeding to or awaiting a jury trial, judge-alone trial, sentencing or final outcome.